The Director General, National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe has been commended for rebranding the Arts and Culture sector to contribute meaningfully to the socio-political and economic development of the nation.

The High Commissioner of Cameroon to Nigeria and the Doyen of the Diplomatic Community in Abuja, His Excellency Salaheddine Abbas Ibrahim, made this remark when members of the Diplomatic community were hosted to a dinner during a tour of facilities at the Arts and Crafts Village in Abuja.

The Doyen was full of commendations for the National Council for Arts and Culture under the dynamic leadership of Otunba Segun Runsewe adding that the passion, drive, records and achievements of Runsewe in the Arts and Culture is evidently unrivalled. This, according to him is evident in the support and confidence the diplomatic community has reposed on him.

He said the Director General remains a blessing to the sector and urged Council to open up vistas of collaboration where the Diplomatic community can tap in to showcase their cultural strengths.

In his welcome address, Otunba Segun
Runsewe, announced that his vision is to present Nigerians with the best cultural market in Africa with its launch of a new marketing strategy which includes a toll gate, a night cultural market, a pharmacy offering free blood sugar tests to visitors of the market, and a birthday shop.

“The Cultural Night Market is the first of its kind in Africa. Between six and nine months of operating the village, we will dovetail into a night market. Everywhere in the world you cannot start a night market without practicing the market during the day before delving into the night market.
You have to operate during the day first, get people acquainted with the idea so that everybody can used to it before extending it into the night shift.
It is intended that when the market is fully operational, one can leave the office at 5pm to the cultural village to shop and feel safe and comfortable when he is there,” he said.

He added that he hopes that the diplomatic community will have unhindered access to the cultural market

Otunba Runsewe also stated that the council in partnership with a world standard pharmacy will host a pharmaceutical space with free medical tests including blood sugar tests for visitors to the space.
Other proposed facilities in the cultural hub include an information/complaint centre-to enhance quality products and services; and a quarterly media interaction session on developments within the village.

There were goodwill messages from ambassadors of various countries including the United States, China, Bulgaria, Mexico, Jamaica, Spain, Cameroon, Cuba, and others who attended the event.

The Director General, National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe has been described as a detribalised Nigerian who preaches unity for all regions while remaining a constant phenomenon in Nigeria’s culture and tourism sectors by virtue, foresight and dint of hard work.

The Ata – Mmanya of Ossamala ancient kingdom, Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, His Royal Highness, Eze Victor Awogu made this known when he paid a courtesy visit to the Director General of the Council Otunba Segun Runsewe at the Nigeria Culture House.

In a nostalgic laden voice, the Royal Father revealed that Runsewe has over the years proved himself to be a culture icon, administrator and enthusiast who has deepened understanding and cultural consciousness at his different levels of engagements.

He added that no one has doubted his genius in transformational administration which is why successive governments have over the years engaged his services to harness our cultural potential and deepen the business side of culture, especially Tourism.

His Royal Highness maintained that Runsewe has laid a formidable foundation which is the bedrock for his success.

Eze Awogu said he was proud to associate with Runsewe; a giant in the development of Nigerian Culture. He prayed God to grant the Director General more wisdom and grace to succeed.

In his response, the Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe said he was highly elated to receive the high powered delegation led by HRH Eze Victor Awogu in his office.

Runsewe noted that as the primary custodians of culture and tradition, the traditional rulers play a vital role in maintaining peace in their various communities.

He said the traditional institution is the closest to the grassroots which makes it possible for the rulers to easily detect violence and prevent it’s escalation in their domains.

Runsewe said as primary custodians of our various traditions and culture, the traditional rulers will make our traditional institutions a veritable springboard for cultural reorientation for our teeming youths who have gone under the wild influence of westernisation.

The Director General presented gifts to His Royal Highness to express his gratitude for the visit.

A Clarion call has been made to Nigerians from all walks of life to imbibe the culture of putting Nigeria first to arrest the pervading hostility in our socio-political space and mobilize our human and material resources towards the attainment our national development.

Otunba Segun Runsewe, the Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture made the call in Abuja when he launched the #PUTTINGNGERIAFIRST campaign as a strategic response to the socio-political situation facing the country at the moment.

Runsewe maintained that the new government of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinibu has promised to run an all inclusive government of national unity recognition and competence adding that the new dawn presents an opportunity for all Nigerians to work together and confront squarely the task of building the Nigeria of our dream.

Runsewe charged all nigerians to have faith in the Nigerian Project and be pationately committed to national development by rising beyond the narrow confines of individualistic concern, religion and political cleavages and put Nigeria First in the interest of peace, social integration harmony and national development.

According to Runsewe, “We have no other nation apart from Nigeria. Therefore making Nigeria great is a task for all nigerians irrespective of religion or creed. This is why we must exchew all forms of religious bigotry, ethnic jingoism, and unhealthy political practice that tend to fan the embers of disunity and distract us from our developmental aspirations”

The Director General therefore, called on all nigerians particularly the political elite, religious leaders, traditional leaders, opinion moulders and all well meaning nigerians to join hands with the new administration in it’s determined efforts to reposition our nation on the path of sustainable peace, socio-ecomomic growth and development.

In a paper titled “Media and Politics”, Mr. Gbenga Arulegba, a renowned broadcast journalist, reminded the men of the fourth estate of their cardinal responsibility to the country. He said it was unethical for media to be partisan in the course of their assignments. He went further to add that the nation depends on the agenda setting responsibility of the media as the watchdog of the society.

Mrs Susan Akporiaye, the President of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agents (NANTA) speaking on “The role of Women in National Unity” said women are naturally created to be builders and their role in nation building cannot be overemphasized. She explained that women are created to be Lovers, wifes, mothers, comforters and builders depending on the circumstances they find themselves.

She explained that the nation begins from the home which places women strategically to build the home which is the bedrock of a successful nation.

Also speaking, A clergyman from the Assembles of God Church, Rev. (Dr) Godwin Agaga who spoke on”Religion and Ethics” said religion and ethical practices has a lot of influence in nation building. He stated that religion helps man to understand the supremacy of God’s thoughts over man. He also used the occasionally to call on all nigerians to exchew all forms of bitterness and religious bigotry and give God the chance to lead the country on the right path.

There were Goodwill messages from the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria, FTAN. Nigeria Institute of Cultural Orientation, NICO, Public Procurement Practitioners of Nigeria ,APPON and other well meaning nigerians.

Participants to the event were drawn from Secondary Schools within the FCT, Stake holders in the Culture and Tourism sector, professional organizations, the general public and the media.