In an era where the learning environment is increasingly recognized as critical to student engagement and development, entrepreneurs are looking for new ways to add value beyond traditional infrastructure.
One such innovator, Solomon Amoo, Chief Executive Officer of Vision Educational Consult, is leveraging the power of mural art to transform ordinary school spaces into vibrant, inspiring environments, blending creativity with enterprise to enhance both aesthetics and educational impact.
Solomon, in 2002, was inspired to venture into murals and design for schools, driven by a desire to create a beautiful and engaging learning environment for children.
“I noticed that the walls and spaces of many schools were plain and not inspiring to young learners. Children learn better in visual, creative and inspiring environments.
“This business allows me to combine art with education, helping schools transform their classrooms and playgrounds into places where children can learn, imagine and grow with joy,” he said.
The Edo State-born artist revealed that he started his business with little or no financial gain, except for small painting and design jobs, which he invested back into the business to buy more materials and improve the quality of his work.
However, he said that within two decades, the business has grown, and the now seven-member team is achieving success.
“Over the years, the business has grown in number of clients, quality and service expansion; we have many schools, churches and organizations that desire our services.
“The growth of the business has been driven by a passion for the arts, a commitment to quality and a desire to create an inspiring learning environment for children,” he said.
Some of their expansion plans include reaching out to more schools, introducing more educational designs, and training more young talents.
Additionally, they aim to further expand into school playground design, educational floor games, and environmental beautification projects for schools, churches, and organizations.
Solomon emphasized that what sets Vision Educational Consult's voice above others in the field of mural painting is its focus not just on decoration, but on creating educational and child-friendly learning environments.
“Our murals are designed to aid learning, featuring letters, numbers, animals, maps, Bible characters and other educational subjects that help children learn visually while they are in school.
“We specialize in the school environment, which means our designs are carefully crafted to be age-appropriate, colorful and engaging for students,” she said.
To avoid rising inflation, he explained that his business adopts a strategy of careful management of our resources by focusing on proper planning and budgeting to ensure that materials are used wisely and there is minimal wastage during projects.
Furthermore, he revealed that his team embraces mutual relationships with clients, suppliers and customers.
According to Solomon, the graffiti business in Nigeria is gradually growing and becoming more recognized.
“Many organizations, schools, churches, offices and even homeowners are now using murals to beautify their spaces and communicate messages through art.
“In the education sector, in particular, murals are becoming important as they help create a colorful and engaging learning environment for children. Studies show that well-designed school murals can improve students' attention, creativity and overall learning environment,” he said.
He reiterated that the murals industry in Nigeria has great potential for growth, especially in the education, corporate and community sectors.
Speaking about some of the major challenges faced by the business since its inception, he said that high cost of materials, limited capital and lack of visibility, among others, have been hindering the growth of the business.
However, Solomon emphasizes that he has been able to overcome many challenges through hard work, staying committed to quality, and maintaining good relationships with his customers.
He advises young entrepreneurs to believe in their dreams, trust God's guidance, and believe in their ability to succeed.
