By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, NCAC, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe on Thursday in Abuja pulled members of the Diplomats corps and 42 countries to the International Arts and Crafts, 2023 pre- INAC dinner.
The the dinner was used to sensitize members of the diplomatic corps on arrangements for the 2023 INAC.
Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, speaking at the dinner said that
the pre- INAC dinner was a way to celebrate Nigeria and the diplomatic community in the country through arts culture and craft.
“The dinner has become a veritable platform for members of the Diplomatic community to interact and exchange ideas through an informal setting and to avail us of your ideas on how INAC could be made richer.”
He said, “Tonight, we are having pre-INAC diplomatic dinner. We are celebrating the diplomatic community in Nigeria; there is no better platform to showcase the narratives of our country to the world better than this kind of opportunity.’
“I am glad that through this platform Nigeria is being portrayed and showcased to the world for positive and not negative reasons like we have been a while back.”
“I cannot take for granted the very strong and healthy relationship between the NCAC and members of the diplomatic community. I will continue to guide it jealously and build on it with passion and commitment.”
According to the DG, the theme of the 16th International Arts and Crafts (INAC) EXPO 2023, ‘Putting Nigeria First’, is aimed at rekindling Nigerians patriotic spirit and to mobilize towards building a greater Nigeria.
“The platform is to majorly to network Nigeria’s arts and craft to the world. There is no better platform than this.”
He emphasized that the expo is providing a channel through which Nigeria and participating countries will make known their policies and investment opportunities in the sector and many others.
It also presents an avenue through which skills could be acquired by the most productive segment of the population, the youths,” he added.
According to him, “Based on the comments of the ambassador’s that the EXPO gets better each year.I also a platform through which ordinary Nigerians network with the world without going to the airport.
.
Also, the Diplomatic community commended Otunba Runsewe for his consistency and diligence in sustaining arts and culture in Nigeria .
Dean of the Diplomatic community in Nigeria, His Excellency, Salaheddine Ibrahima,commended Runsewe for sustaining diplomatic platform for over six years since the launch of the Global Diplomacy for Peace.
He said that the DG has made foreign missions work together using culture to engender sustainable peace, social harmony, cooperation and international understanding.
Ibrahima urged foreign missions in Nigeria to take advantage of the platform offered by NCAC to network their various cultural strengths to the world.
Furthermore, Ambassador of Argentina to Nigeria, High Commissioner of Cameroon to Nigeria, The Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, and Ambassador of Mexico to Nigeria among others commended the NCAC DG for his good works through creative network opportunities to exhibit the country’s arts and crafts.
