Nigeria set to unveil e-library, viewing centre to showcase, link Nigeria cultural heritage to 150 countries — Runsewe

The director-general, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Segun Runsewe, has said that a new e-library and viewing centre in the pipeline will capture Nigeria’s diverse cultural heritage and link it up to about 150 countries in the world, and will be situated at Nigeria’s new Culture House in Abuja.

The e-library/viewing centre platform,  which is one of the positive fall out of Runsewe’s engagements in China, will be strategically deployed to harness basic information, history and tradition of Nigeria,  cultural tourism heritage and showcase them to global tourism community, cultural heritage experts and students of cultural studies all over the world.

Fielding questions from journalists in Beijing. After a visit to the Great Wall of China, Runsewe explained that the e-library/viewing centre, which became a new platform to market natural resources and heritage sites during the COVID-19 pandemic is now being deployed by other countries to market their tourism and heritage opportunities to the world.

Runsewe, who is also the president, World Craft Council (WCC), Africa region “The beauty is that once Nigeria keys into the e-library/viewing centre, we’re going to be connected to over 150 countries in the world, which will change the way the world sees Nigeria, including the wrong things they read about us that is not correct.”

He added that the platform will also serve as avenue to tell Nigeria’s story by Nigerians, explaining further that Nigeria will use the opportunity to tell the world of what it’s  doing, what is happening and share its history, cultural heritage and our icons which will generate positive discussions and interests about the country.

“I am happy because we’re going to be connected digitally by this E-library to about 150 countries of the world, an advantage which also brings us to study more about digital opportunities which we can leverage to market and promote Nigeria.”

On the role played by the Ambassador of China to Nigeria, Ambassador Cui Jianchun in deepening the bond of friendship and culture between Nigeria and China, Runsewe disclosed that the ambassador is not only a visionary leader but has also changed the story of relationship between Nigeria and China since he assumed office in Nigeria.

“The ambassador is all over the place in Nigeria, co-ordinating and bringing the people of the two countries together, particularly Nigerian youths whom he has provided opportunities to learn about the history and language of the Chinese, and also facilitating the Chinese students coming to Nigeria universities and communities to learn about the history and culture of the nigerian people

“There’s no doubt that the relationship between China and Nigeria is growing by the day, which is as the result of visionary leadership from both the Chinese embassy and the Chinese cultural centre in Nigeria. I must also praise the efforts of Li Xuda, the Director of Chinese center in Abuja for the good works he’s doing with the Nigerian youths.

He explained that he rise to the occassion during the seminar in China to speak on the good works which the ambassador and his team has done in Nigeria to which one of the gains is the opportunity for Nigeria to connect to an E-library which will open up the country to other nations in the world.

“Certainly, I’m discussing with the Chinese Ambassador on how to bring a strong team from Nigeria to under study the cultural strategy of China so we can develop what I call 37 Nigerian national cultural tourism products.

“The initiative is to have one cultural tourism product per state, so that at the end of the day, the brand products will serve as our strategy to engage the world to know about our people and our diversity,” Runsewe added.

The Nigeria Culture House, which will also serve as the new address of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), will be unveiled in June 2023 in Abuja.