The Nigeria envoy in Russia, Professor Steve Davies Ugba has commended the Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture, (NCAC) Otunba Segun Runsewe for cultural promotion, which he described as “the high standard practical promotion feat” taken to showcase Nigeria’s rich cultural potential to the world at the Russia 2018 Worlod Cup in Moscow.
The Nigeria Ambassador, Professor Ugbah who dropped the statement at the Nigeria embassy in Moscow when the NCAC delegation visited the envoy said the council have shown outstanding commitment and readiness to make Nigeria proud through its practical and visionary purpose in using any slightest opportunity to tell Nigerian story in style and colour.
The Nigeria envoy who received the NCAC team who came with a load of promotional items and souvenirs to help further the promotion of Nigeria rich culture potential, described the visit as a unique opportunity for the embassy to not only receive a delegation but also to share with them some of the most important items in promoting Nigeria to the people of Russia.
“We haven’t seen these support; we were hoping and expecting that we see such gifts you’ve given us. They say it is neither late than never, but i promise you we will make judicious use of these materials you have donated to us and this is what we have been asking for a very long time because ours is to promote Nigeria all around.
“Our mission to promote Nigeria culture, economic, political among others, which is our main objective of our being in Russia and it was so unfortunate that we could not get our hands on these promotional items to distribute which brought us tremendous opportunity to market Nigeria in Russia Federation.
“For those of you who are coming to Russia for the first time, you can now see why we are so excited about the prospect in Russia. People who have not been to Russia have heard stories about Russia, which are scary and have kept people away from them.
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“For long as much as we have been here, we will try as much as possible to open Russians to Nigerians and vice versa, and the way we do that, is through these things you have given us to share.
I am particularly happy with the presence of the media because there is a huge gap of knowledge about Russia in Nigeria, mainly because of the total absence of the Nigerian Media in Federation of Russia. So i am hoping as you go back, you media with a high sense of obligation, you see the need to liaise with us at the embassy to help promote Nigeria here in Russia Federation.
It is the Media that will drive the exposure, whatever they see is what they follow and react to. so I hope that they will take back pictures and stories home and talk about Russia to Nigerians.
The West has its presence in Africa but guess what, they established their office in South Africa, Nairobi and not Nigeria. Russia has stronger presence in parts of Africa than Nigeria. We are the giant in Africa and the largest economy in Africa. We are also one of the significant markets in Africa,
Also Runsewe who appreciated the cultural pride and sensitivity of the envoy in the area of showcasing Nigeria in Russia, awarded professor Ugba a certificate of appreciation for the embassy’s immense contribution to the success of NCAC’s cultural support for the Super Eagles at the FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Speaking at the Nigeria embassy in Moscow, the Director-General, NCAC, Otunba Runsewe whose passion to change Nigeria cultural narrative globally said “I sat down and took a critical look at the country and found out that we are a bit disconnected with the rest of the world because football last for 90 minutes and think of what happens throughout the rest of the day for the month.
“This, however, geared my team and I to replicate in Moscow what I did in South Africa 2010, where we have a Nigerian village with lots of cultural ensemble, souvenirs and gift items alongside activities that showcase Nigeria in it richness.
“But in Russia, there is a different plan, where the Ministry of Sport has the Nigerian project house that is to provide ground while we are to come down with high level exhibition content, speaking for the over 180 million wonderful people of Nigeria and that were why we are in Moscow.
“From day one, i said we are not going to watch ball because our sole aim is to promote Nigerian culture, so none of my team was three km close to any stadium, all we are doing was promoting Nigeria and we Thank God for the resounding success in terms of people getting to know us.
“We see the Nigerian Ambassador to the Federation of Russia, Professor Ugbah as a cultural voice that has the promotional spirit to boost Nigeria’s image in Russia which align with the concept and ideology of the NCAC local cultural content promotion.
“This embassy is distinct in the way they do things because I have travelled far and near and visited many countries but this embassy hold the ace in patriotism, cultural pride and ready to take the promotion of Nigeria to the next level.
“We will be working hand-in-hand with them to see that we jointly achieve our goal of positioning Nigeria cultural pride in the comity of nations.”
However, as a sign of partnership, Runsewe donated promotional items (Nigeria flags, a book on 37 wonders of Nigeria, locally made mugs among many other souvenirs) for the embassy use in furthering the marketing Nigeria’ cultural potential.
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