Daybreak, Politics, Entertainment, Sport

Tag: Otunba Segun Runsewe

  • Runsewe Commends Sanwo- Olu for restoring History curriculum to schools

    Runsewe Commends Sanwo- Olu for restoring History curriculum to schools

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

    Director General, National Council for Arts and Culture, NCAC, Otunba Segun Runsewe has commended Governor Babajide Sanwo- Olu for restoring History subject into Lagos State schools curriculum.

    Runsewe who is also President, Africa Region of World Craft Council ( WCC) , said that with the return of History back into the curriculum of schools in Lagos schools is a welcome strategic as the history of Nigeria is prominent feature in the upcoming November NAFEST cultural fiesta in Lagos.

    ” Strategically, we have school children competition on Arts, crafts and culture, and definitely History will be part of the subjects we shall introduce to compliment this cheering milestone from the governor of lagos state. ”

    We have established a foothold in the investment of cultural education and history in Nafest in the past four years and each state where Nafest took place, we target and give robust support to children theatre, and full compliment to reenact the history of our past heroes who contributed to our political evolution and Nafest in lagos will witness a new direction in this aspect. Otunba Segun Runsewe affirmed.

    The NCAC DG called on other state governments to copy Gov. Sanwo-Olu by making History of Nigeria a quick come back curriculum in primary and secondary schools in order to infuse love of nation and people’s culture and tradition among young children.

    ” we must take our children back from foreign cultural influences and help grow their faith and trust in Nigeria through the study of Nigerian History. It is long overdue and we at NACA join the Lagos State Governor to celebrate this auspicious engagement by donating History books and narratives on pre colonial Nigeria at Nafest to all state participants” Runsewe said.

  • Use music as platform to rebrand , unify Nigeria, Runsewe tasks PMAN

    Use music as platform to rebrand , unify Nigeria, Runsewe tasks PMAN

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

    Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe has tasked Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria, ( PMAN) to use music as a platform to develop a strong brand that will unify the country.

    Runsewe gave this advise when the Executive members of the association paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Abuja.

    He expressed delight over the visit stressed that the association has a big role to play in spreading the message of unity to heal the wounds and rekindle the hopes, yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians who continually strive for a better tomorrow.

    According to the DD, the time is now for a strong collaboration between the National Council for Arts and Culture and PMAN in developing and promoting a strong Nigerian brand through music adding that in other parts of the world, music is an important tool to drive home the demands of the people at the same time get the attention of the government of the day.

    The Director General who is also the President of the World Crafts Council for African Region reiterated the need for the association to remain focussed and creat a platform for all musicians all over the country to have a unified voice.
    The Culture Icon urged the association to produce a Nigerian song that will unify all the different ethnic groups in the country.

    Leader of the delegation and the President of the association, Pretty Okafor said they were in the Council headquarters to express their appreciation to the Director General ,Otunba Runsewe for the fatherly role he played to ensure the return of peace to the association.

    The PMAN president, Mr. Pretty Okafor stated that under the new leadership of the association, all musicians in the country have been duly registered and are enjoying royalties from their works through a partnership created with Zenith Bank of Nigeria Plc.

    He also revealed that the association has been able so secure a land in the Federal Capital Territory for the building of an Entertainment City and the Musicians Village to cater for the needs of the association.
    Also speaking, the first vice president of the association, Sunny Neji pleaded with Otunba Runsewe to remember the
    association when the covid 19 parliatives is being shared.

    Runsewe however promised to look into their demands with a view to ameloriating the various challenges of the association.

    He also promised to give the association adequate representation in the council programmes coming up later this year.

  • Lagos to Host Biggest Eko NAFEST 2022, Sanwo-Olu promises

    Lagos to Host Biggest Eko NAFEST 2022, Sanwo-Olu promises

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

    Lagos State Governor Sanwo- Olu has promised that the State Government has concluded plans to host the most colourful National Festival of Arts and Culture, NAFEST 2022.

    Sanwo- Olu gave this assurance when the Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, NCAC, Otunba Segun Runsewe led a delegation on a visit to the governor’s office to formally present a Blueprint of the festival and to know the level of preparedness of the state in hosting the festival.

    Governor Sanwo- Olu disclosed that that a delegation from the state had visited the NCAC for a Pre-NAFEST maiden meeting to interact and obtain details of hosting the festival which will bring together contingents from the 36 States of the federation and the FCT to Lagos State.

    He said from the report, the State government had to improve on their facilities to meet all criteria set by the NCAC that will enable the state not only to host the biggest and most colourful festival but also emerge the overall winner of the fiesta.

    He revealed that as a prelude to the festival, Lagos State will hold a Pre-NAFEST event for seven days which is aimed at showcasing the rich cultural heritage of all the local government areas in the state which will therefore herald the Eko NAFEST 2022.

    NCAC Director General, Otunba Segun Runsewe congratulated the Lagos State Government for winning the hosting right for NAFEST 2022 which was keenly contested by three other states, adding that the festival which is the foremost cultural event in Nigeria has become a platform to unite the nation through Arts and Culture.

    Runsewe said, “the essence of the visit is to interact and brief you on details of hosting the festival which will converge contingents from the 36 States of the federation and the FCT to Lagos state for seven days.”

    He further reiterated his commitment to fine-tune the festival into richer, bigger and better platform for Lagos State, the centre of excellence by making the EKO NAFEST 2022 the best of its kind in the history of Nigeria.

    He explained that the festival would have far reaching benefits to Lagosian with a positive impact on the economy of the state in the areas of hotel accommodation, transportation, small scale businesses and vendors.

    Runsewe also expressed the need for the State Local Organizing Committee (LOC) to to work in close partnership with the National Organizing Committee (NOC) for effective coordination.

    According to the Director General, the wife of the Governor , Mrs Ibijoke Sonwo- Olu will be crowned the mother of NAFEST ” (Mama Nafest 22) during the National Technical Stakeholders meeting coming up later this month. This will also afford her the platform to host the children during the Eko Nafest 2022.

    There was exchange of cultural gifts between the Lagos State Governor and the Director General of the NCAC.

  • Ekiti NAFEST: Kogi Drama Group Thrills Runsewe, Audience In Ekiti

    Ekiti NAFEST: Kogi Drama Group Thrills Runsewe, Audience In Ekiti

    From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    The Director General, National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe onTuesday in Ekiti appreciated the drama presentation by Kogi State Council for Arts and Culture at Ekiti NAFEST, 2021.

    According to the release signed by the Kogi state Information Officer of the ministry, Comrade Gabriel Edicha, the DG who was obviously thrilled by the performance, was clapping hands throughout the duration of the presentation.

    The drama titled “the harmony of the discords” expressed the unity, peace and love that existed amongst the tribes in Nigeria and how the cherished values were adulterated by colonialism.

    The release disclosed that the drama was a masterpiece of creativity and history of the abundant cultural heritage and mineral resources in Nigeria and how it is relevant to the theme of the festival, “Quest for unity”.

    “It also talked about the need to reason together and correct the damages done to our collective psyche and bastardization of our culture, as a people.”

    ” The drama traced the enormous degree of discord among the tribes of Nigeria to adverse colonial activities, gluttony and inordinate ambition of the political class, expressing the fact that all hope is not lost.”

    “It also called for laying down the arms we have carried against one another, in order for peace and progress to reign in the country.”

    It was gathered that Kogi contingent also featured prominently in the indigenous fabrics fashion parade, where the ‘EBIGO’ FABRIC CONCEPT of Governor Yahaya Bello was on full display.

  • Otunba Runsewe’s Statue makes history as Igboukwu Cultural heritage

    Otunba Runsewe’s Statue makes history as Igboukwu Cultural heritage

    By Joyce Remi- Babayeju

    The Statue of the Director General National Council for Arts and Culture, NCAC, Otunba Segun Runsewe was on Saturday unveiled in Etiti village as a historical edifice at the famous and ancient Igboukwu cultural heritage in Anambra State.

    The colourful unveiling of Runsewe’s statue was part of the activities to mark the 2021 New Yam festival of the Igboukwu community the ancestral home of the Igbo nation and custodian of the historic NOK culture which dates back to 1500 BC.

    According to the Etiti indigenes the historic statue which is the first in remembrance of a Nigerian public figure inaugurated inaugurated by MBIDO Igbo Association, an inter agency Committee on Culture, Arts and Tourism in the south East of Nigeria.

    The MBIDO association Nation Chairman Chief Okafouzu Ugochukwu said that the statue is a tribute to remember Otunba Runsewe by the igbo cultural body for constructing the biggest Yam House in I2007 in Igbo land and in Nigeria, and for listing the Yam festival on national and global Cultural festival calendars during his time at Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) in 2007.

    Words on marble at the site of six feet effigy of Runsewe in Igboukwu reads” This statue of Otunba Segun Runsewe OON, the indefatigable icon of Culture in Nigeria and Tourism Dynamo of our time, stands as testimony of a detribalized Nigerian who gave the igbo race the deserved voice in cultural tourism world.”

    Ugochuchukwu disclosed that Otunba Segun Runsewe is so honoured for his enduring practical statement in the erection of the first national Yam House in Nigeria in 2007, and for enlisting the celebration of the igbo Yam festival in national and international cultural calendar.

    ” Otunba Segun Runsewe supports the lgbo cultural tourism history and tradition as an Iroko tree and Zuma rock in a dogged effort, not only putting a national structure in recognition of the Igbo traditional hold as producers of Yam but also in ensuring that the Yam festival is listed in the national cultural calendar which has helped the Yam Festival celebrated in eastern Nigeria, gain international recognition.

    Chief Ugochuchukwu stressed the need for Igboukwu as the ancestral home of the igbo nation to be enlisted as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) site, in order to preserve and promote the socioeconomic and Cultural tourism value chain in igbo history, tradition and
    Socioeconomic development.

    We appeal to all relevant Federal government Culture, Arts and Tourism agencies to help us enlist Igboukwu as a World heritage site as strategic global attention to encourage more research and to attract tourism visits to other numerous Igbo ecological tourism sites in the south east of Nigeria, he said.

  • Osun Adire Day: Runsewe gives Gov. Oyetola accolade for promoting Adire Eleko

    Osun Adire Day: Runsewe gives Gov. Oyetola accolade for promoting Adire Eleko

    By Joyce Remi- Babayeju

    Director General, National Council for Arts and Culture, NCAC, Otunba Segun Runsewe has commended the Osun State Gov. Gboyega Oyetola for reawakening cultural fashion by promoting Adire Eleko wear to mark the state cultural fashion day.

    Runsewe said that Gov. Oyetola deserves a national accolade for promoting the indigenous fabric of the state.

    From August 27, Governor Oyetola has made it compulsory for all public and civil servants to wear the osun state variant of local Adire fabric, known as “Adire Eleko” to work as a way to revive the dying Cultural fashion of the people, noted for their artistic and Cultural tourism endowments.

    Otunba Segun Runsewe who is also the President, Africa region of the World Craft Council, WCC), said that the declaration of August 27 as Adire Osun Day, by governor Gboyega Oyetola, resonates with the vision and aspirations of the Federal Government to grow and focus on indigenous Cultural tourism engagements, adding that the time has come for Nigerians to embrace our indigenous and traditional ” (wear, eat and speak” ) ways of life.

    The Cultural Adire fabric revolution started with Ogun state and infiltrated into Osun state but governor Oyetola has taken it further to an international phase by making it a citizens project which is commendable, deserving our support and encouragement, Otunba Runsewe explained.
    The NCAC boss has urged other state governors in the country to pay more attention to the Cultural tourism and indigenous economy, in order to create jobs for young persons, particularly women in the rural areas.

    Osun state, noted for its iconic Cultural Festival, Osun Oshogbo, is home to Adire variant, “Adire Eleko” endemic to the state, also noted Culturally as” Ilu Aro”( Home of Dye).

    Meanwhile Governor Oyetola represented by the Secretary to the state government Wole Oyebamiji on Saturday at the Osun fashion week, held in Oshogbo restarted the commitment of the government to diversify and prioritize the culture tourism endowments for youths employment.

    “We shall partner with Musty Great Development and Alexanderia Jones Couture, based in the United States ‘Of America to market the osun Adire fabric to the world.” the SSG, reiterated.

  • Runsewe gets FG’s nod for another four years as NCAC DG

    Runsewe gets FG’s nod for another four years as NCAC DG

    By Joyce Remi- Babayeju

    The Federal Government has given a nod for the reappointment of the Director General of the National Centre for Arts and Culture, NCAC, Otunba Segun Runsewe for another four year term.

    In a press release from the culture agency reaching Daybreak today, Runsewe’s term elongation by President Muhammadu Bihari is as a result of his tenacity and commitment to deepen the Nigerian cultural economy.

    The President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Garba Shehu who announced hi Runsewe’ s reappointment a few hours ago today said, ” President Bihari has found Runsewe worthy to continue the good work he is doing at NCAC and for Nigerian Culture.”

    Following the news , there was massive jubilation across the sector on Runsewe’s reappointment, an attestation that NCAC is key to President Buhari’s Cultural and tourism reformation agenda.

    Furthermore there were other appointments in the parastatals under under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

    In light of this the Acting President Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN,) Mr Nkerewuem Onung and President, National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) Mrs Susan Akporiaye commended the government’s decision and the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed bc for his support for NCAC and the culture sector.

  • Runsewe gets FG’s nod for another four years as NACA DG

    Runsewe gets FG’s nod for another four years as NACA DG

    By Joyce Remi- Babayeju

    The Federal Government has given a nod for the reappointment of the Director General of the National Centre for Arts and Culture, NCAC, Otunba Segun Runsewe for another four year term.


    In a press release from the culture agency reaching Daybreak today, Runsewe’s term elongation by President Muhammadu Bihari is as a result of his tenacity and commitment to deepen the Nigerian cultural economy.

    The President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Garba Shehu who announced hi Runsewe’ s reappointment a few hours ago today said, ” President Bihari has found Runsewe worthy to continue the good work he is doing at NCAC and for Nigerian Culture.”


    Following the news , there was massive jubilation across the sector on Runsewe’s reappointment, an attestation that NCAC is key to President Buhari’s Cultural and tourism reformation agenda.

    Furthermore there were other appointments in the parastatals under under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.


    In light of this the Acting President Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN,)Mr Nkerewuem Onung and President, National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) Mrs Susan Akporiaye commended the government’s decision and the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed for his support for NCAC and the culture sector.