The Director- General of National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe, has assured of his council’s preparedness to participate in the next Korean cultural festival, stressing the intent was to build a asting relationship with the Koreans in so many aspects, especially in terms of cultural festivals.
Addressing Noh Kyu-Duk, the South Korean ambassador to Nigeria, during a courtesy call to his office in Abuja, Runsewe implored his host to use his good office to accommodate some intelligent, hard working staff of the council in the series of scholarship awards related to the various fields of arts and culture in the embassy adding he will be delighted if the envoy could as well partner with NCAC in the area of language development strategy.
“I want to assure your Excellency that as the custodians of culture in Nigeria, if you grant us your support in capacity building for our staff in the areas of coordination, organizing of seminars, workshops and conferences on arts and culture, we shall be extremely grateful and will seek to return the gesture in the area of our competence.”
He however invited Mr. Noh Kyu-Duk to the forthcoming NAFEST saying, “I want to appeal to you to be our special guest of honour in our forthcoming NAFEST coming up in Kaduna later this year. Your Excellency, it will interest you to know that National Festival for Arts and Culture (NAFEST) is a strong avenue to showcase our culture, and preach the message of unity among the various states in the country. As regards the African Arts and crafts Expo (AFAC), it is also a channel to promote our culture among the various African nations. We shall be honored if you will allow us to declare one day of the event as South Korean day.”
While reminding the ambassador of the benefits the council has enjoyed in years past, especially in the year 2010, Runsewe appealed to the ambassador to re-open such vistas for reunification stressing that the council will be willing to also partner with the embassy in the training of craftsmen especially in the area of packing and finishing skills of Nigerian craft products.
Speaking during the meeting, the ambassador poured encomiums on his guest for being a round peg in a round hole. He observed, “Having read your profile, and your achievements at the tourism industry, I have a strong conviction that the culture sector shall wear a new look during your tenureship”.
His Excellency told the DG that South Korean has more than 30 cultural centres in Africa, and was proud to make Nigeria the coordinating centre in Africa.
He added further, “we often organize cultural contests among nations annually, for students in the various countries as preliminary contest while the main event comes up in Korea. Nigeria came the overall best in the year 2015 and second best in 2016.”
The ambassador acknowledged the talents God endowed Nigerians with in so many facets of life more especially in cultural displays.
He promised to give the Director-General all the needed cooperation in his new assignment knowing fully well that he is a man of ideas and vision.
and then