In 2021, a final-year student from the Department of Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Benin, Benin City, named Emmanuel Omoregie, completed a sculpture that quickly drew public attention. The work, a striking portrayal of the Nigerian activist Aisha Yesufu, was created as part of his final-year project and has since circulated widely online, admired for both its realism and symbolism.
Omoregie’s piece represents more than an academic exercise. It captures a turning point in Nigeria’s social history, a period when art, youth activism, and public outcry merged in a powerful demand for justice.
Aisha Yesufu: The Voice of a Movement
Aisha Yesufu, born in Kano State, has long been one of Nigeria’s most courageous voices for accountability and reform. She rose to national prominence in 2014 when she co-founded the Bring Back Our Girls campaign, a movement calling for the rescue of schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram in Chibok, Borno State.
Over time, her activism evolved beyond that campaign. Yesufu became a symbol of civic resistance, fearlessly confronting political leaders and demanding transparency in governance. Her reputation for blunt honesty and unwavering conviction made her a key figure in the country’s modern protest culture.
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The #EndSARS Movement and the Iconic Image
In October 2020, Nigeria witnessed the historic #EndSARS protests, a nationwide movement against police brutality, extrajudicial killings, and abuse of power by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
During the demonstrations, an image of Aisha Yesufu, wearing a hijab, standing tall, and raising her clenched fist, went viral. The photograph came to represent the spirit of resistance, embodying courage, defiance, and collective unity. It became one of the defining visuals of the movement and a reminder of the power of ordinary citizens to demand change.
From Photograph to Sculpture
Inspired by that powerful moment, Emmanuel Omoregie transformed Yesufu’s image into a sculptural masterpiece. His work captures the poise, determination, and emotional strength of her raised-fist gesture.
Though limited information exists regarding the sculpture’s official exhibition or public display, its impact lies in its symbolism. It stands as a creative intersection of art and activism, showing how student artists in Nigeria use their craft to respond to national issues.
Through his sculpture, Omoregie immortalised not only Yesufu’s likeness but also the larger story of young Nigerians demanding change. The work embodies a generation’s willpower and belief that art can be a weapon against oppression.
The Enduring Legacy of Aisha Yesufu
Beyond the sculpture, Aisha Yesufu’s influence continues to shape Nigeria’s socio-political landscape. She remains an outspoken advocate for justice and good governance, unafraid to challenge institutional failure or political complacency.
Her legacy is rooted in fearless speech and consistent action, traits mirrored in Omoregie’s artistic portrayal. By turning her into a sculptural icon, the young artist aligned creativity with conscience, bridging aesthetics and activism in a way few projects manage.
Art as Protest: The Power of Representation
Art has always played a role in recording human struggle, from murals of revolution to statues of freedom fighters. In Nigeria, this role is taking on new forms. The Aisha Yesufu sculpture symbolises that transformation, a shift from traditional commemorative art to socially conscious expression.
The statue invites reflection on the broader fight for justice, and its existence demonstrates how art education in Nigerian universities continues to evolve as a medium of political engagement and historical memory.
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Author’s Note
This sculpture stands as a testament to the enduring link between art and activism. Emmanuel Omoregie’s portrayal of Aisha Yesufu captures not just a moment in protest history but the unyielding voice of Nigerian youth against injustice.
It reminds us that creative expression is not merely decorative, it is declarative. Through art, truth can be preserved, courage can be embodied, and a nation’s conscience can be cast in bronze, clay, or stone.
References
Aisha Yesufu – Nigerian Activist, Wikipedia, 2025.
Aisha Yesufu’s Iconic Twitter Photo Energises #EndSARS Protesters, Premium Times Nigeria, 2020.
UNIBEN Student Makes a Statue of Activist Aisha Yesufu, AllWomen Nigeria, 2021.
