Prefab Galleries, founded by the legendary Prince Alban Gogo Anyanwu, stands as a symbol of artistic heritage and innovation. With decades of experience in producing monumental sculptures and fine art, our gallery celebrates creativity while preserving cultural and spiritual narratives. We continue to inspire and connect communities through timeless works of art that reflect the past, present, and future of artistic expression.
Prince Gogo studied Fine Arts at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (1961-1962) and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (1962-1965) becoming one of the two pioneer graduates of sculpture at the University of Nigeria.
He was a seasoned, mature, experienced professional teacher for all levels especially in Creative Arts. From his primary school days, he manifested his talent and appreciation for the Fine Arts and Literature. His mother put his art talents right by commissioning and empowering him to carve wooden dolls for his newborn siblings.
As a fulfilled educator, Prince Gogo taught in primary, secondary, teacher-training, and tertiary institutions as Headmaster, Principal of Colleges, Lecturer (the pioneer sculpture lecturer in the Institute of Management and Technology, IMT – Enugu) before joining the Imo State Government after its creation in 1976. He was a Chief Inspector of Education for Creative Arts, Director of State Archives, and the pioneer Director of the Council for Arts and Culture a role that created the opportunity for him to direct creative arts and culture in the old Imo State.
During these periods of interactions, he taught, lectured, and inspired most of his students and teachers into becoming professors and graduates in different areas of the Creative Arts – Fine Art, Literature, Music, Dance-Drama. He introduced the use of passport photos to the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) and Imo State to minimize admission and exam frauds in the education systems. As a man who believed in love of community, he founded the Prefab Neighbourhood Association in 1982 and became its pioneer chairman from 1982 – 1990. Till date, the association is one of the leading neighbourhood associations in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
In his late 70s, Prince Gogo started a series of penetrating orientation lectures titled – ‘Revolution in Education through the Creative Arts’. The lectures were delivered to secondary schools in Imo State, Nigeria. Those lectures were documented in 3 Creative Art books which he authored and published. The books were launched on his 80th birthday, in 2014.
In 1981, Prince Gogo opened a big Art Studio and Gallery – the Prefab Galleries at Owerri, Imo State where he produced so many art works – sculpture and painting. Since his graduation, he has executed over 200 gigantic sculpture pieces (few are listed below), paintings and has participated in solo and group Art Exhibitions.
Unfortunately, Prince Gogo’s Art Studio and Gallery was demolished in a most barbaric manner in May 2010 – he lost many of his artworks (sculpture pieces and paintings) and that of his son, a graduate painter. Though a High Court Judgment was delivered in favor of Prince Gogo against the Imo State Housing Corporation (for trespassing) in May 2020 by Justice Njaka, the belated justice (after 10 years) cannot substitute the destroyed artworks of a renowned professional artist.
Prince Gogo was a successful family man. He was happily married to Princess Joyce Uchechi, a retired principal of colleges. They are blessed with 4 sons, daughters in-law and grandchildren.
(1934-2023)
(1934-2023)
(1934-2023)
Gogo holds a bachelor’s degree in Fine Art (painting) from the University of Uyo, Nigeria and a master’s degree in Human Resource Management & Employment Relations from the Warwick Business School, University of Warwick, UK. He is an alumnus of Harvard Kennedy, Law and Business Schools, and the US Labour College, Maryland and has attended several HR, leadership and management conferences and seminars. Currently, Gogo is a full-time PhD student in Human Resource Management and Employment Relations at the Leeds University Business School, University of Leeds, UK.
Since his graduation as a professional artist in 1998, Gogo has produced over 200 paintings in different media and has participated in solo and group Art Exhibitions. As part of his passion for creative arts, in 2007, Gogo managed the first Nigeria commercial bank financial support for the Nollywood sector – the ‘Ecobank Nollywood Project’ that financed the production and distribution of four movies within and outside Nigeria, becoming a financial adviser to some top Nollywood producers.
Gogo has over 22 years’ work experience across different departments of commercial banks – corporate services, branch management, HR and coaching as well as the consulting sector. He is a certified Coach, an employee and labour relations expert who has managed employment relations and HR projects of an international bank – for over a decade. He is an advocate of effective talent management, employee relations & rights and business process optimization. His functions encompass consulting, training, HR advisory, employee relations, labour law, sales, client-facing services & programme facilitation and voluntary services.
Due to his passion for employee voice and rights, Gogo facilitated the establishment of the Ecobank senior staff union – the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) and became its founding President – from 2008 to 2016. In 2009, he also facilitated the implementation of a policy that authorized a member of the union to represent the interest of all employees in the Disciplinary Committee of Ecobank. Gogo also facilitated the implementation of the same policy in 13 other Nigerian banks.
In 2007, before becoming a trade unionist, Gogo engaged in a lawsuit (keeping in mind other affected employees) with his former employer, one of the big Nigerian banks over an unprofessional and unethical treatment (repayment of customer’s bad loan) meted on him. He won the case at the High and Appeal courts. The courts’ rulings became landmark judgments as other employees within the banking, private and public sectors who suffered similar injustice still use the judgment as a precedent to seek justice within organizations and in the law courts. The judgment is cited as a reference in most employment relations legal cases at the Industrial and Appeal courts. Since then, Gogo has been advising employees and organizations on employment relations issues as part of his commitment to ensuring employees’ rights, good experience and wellbeing. Over the years, Gogo has participated in several successful ad-hoc committees and developmental projects of communities, religious and private sector organizations.
He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), International Retail Banking Academy, UK, the Coach Transformation Academy, the Nigerian Institute of Management, Chartered (NIM) and the Society of Nigerian Artist (SNA). Gogo is skilled in negotiation and his areas of expertise include, employee relations and HR, leadership, coaching and negotiation. He is an accomplished and practicing artist with great talent and imagination. He is married and has two daughters.
Professional Artist, HR & Employee Relations Strategist
Professional Artist, HR & Employee Relations Strategist
Professional Artist, HR & Employee Relations Strategist