Elated at the pace and passion Otunba Runsewe has brought as Nigeria’s culture chief, and his determination to sustain cultural relationship between Nigeria and China, the Nigeria-China Business Council has honored him with the award of Cultural Bridge Builder.

While presenting the award, the national coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the Council, Dr Matthew Uwakwe, at an impressive ceremony to mark the Council’s recognition and award dinner in Abuja stated that Otunba Segun Runsewe has worked tirelessly to build a strong cultural tourism relationship between Nigeria and China.

He addded that Otunba Runsewe had, in various ways, convinced the world that Nigeria culture in its diversity has capacity to foster unity and peace among the people of both countries.

He explained that the Chinese Consulate and the Chinese community in Nigeria were pleased with the pace, passion and diplomatic harmony Otunba Runsewe has brought to bear on his assignment as Nigeria culture chief to sustain cultural relationship between Nigeria and China.

Delivering his keynote address titled: “Strategy For Promoting Cultural Integration Among Nigeria and China”, Runsewe who is the Director General National Council for Arts and Culture drew attention to the need to activate all aspects of cultural ties between Nigeria and China.He also recommended the organising of regular cultural troupes/performances and exhibitions between the two countries.

He said: “Nigeria and China enjoy one of the best bilateral diplomatic and cultural relationships in the world. This bilateral relationship has existed for half a century and was formally promulgated with the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1971 and rejuvenated by the strategic partnership accord in 2005.

“Even recently, China and Nigeria demonstrated their continued commitment to this robust, healthy, progressively dynamic and holistic relationship when they signed the governmental Memorandum of Understanding during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, Beijing Summit.

“China remains one of Nigeria’s key allies, with key bilateral trade and strategic cooperation, as well as trading import and export partnerships. With 80% of Nigeria’s population indicating a positive perception of Nigeria-China relation, Nigeria is clearly one of the most pro-China nations in the world.

Marshalling out the underlying reason for this seamless relationship, Runsewe who also doubles as the President, World Crafts Council for African Region said: “Both countries share similarities with regards to their strategic positioning in their respective continents, their political and economic influence as well as population strength. This fosters a mutually beneficial and harmonious atmosphere full of opportunities for sharing, understanding and exchanging of cultural commonalities and diversities among the two countries.

Otunba Runsewe, who was a special guest of honour at the event,also identified factors that enhance mutual benefits between Nigeria and China. Both countries share the same national day; October 1. For Nigeria, the year is 1960, while China’s is 1948. The two countries are ethnically diverse and share the misfortune of experiencing a civil war at some point in their histories, with the impacts still felt today in various ways.

It will be recalled that Runsewe is currently China Man of The Year and Chairman, Africa China Culture Exchange Society.

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.

No fewer than 3000 Nigerian youths are to benefit from the capacity building programme midwifed by the National Council for Arts and Culture in collaboration with the the Peoples Republic of China in the later part of the year.

The Director General, National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe revealed this to newsman when he received in audience the Chinese Cultural Attache Lee Xuda at the Nigerian Culture House, Abuja,

Runsewe stated that his recent visit to China gave him an opportunity to understudy the secret behind the ingenuity and creativeness of the Chinese in goods production. He further stated that there was need for Nigerian youths to be exposed and trained in such environment to gain the needed skills and knowledge in various area of goods production.

The Director General reiterated that this capacity building programme when finalized will involve selected youths from every state of the federation and the FCT, who will be sponsored to China by the state governments in Nigeria including the FCT. The National Council for Arts and Culture will facilitate and coordinate the training on various skills acquisition programmes.

Otunba Runsewe maintained that at the end of the capacity building programme, the skills acquired by the youths will enhance growth and economic development in their various stages and by extension, Nigeria.

Responding, the Chinese Cultural Attache, Lee Xuda, said Nigeria and the Peoples Republic of China have a strong bilateral and economic relationship, adding that Nigeria is one of the African countries attracting the most investment from China.

He said economic and trade cooperation is the main pillar of the China and Nigeria bilateral relations, noting that it has made tremendous efforts to help Nigeria, which has abundant human and natural resources to develop her economy.

The Cultural Attachee assured that the Chinese Government is willing to collaborate with Nigeria in areas that will ensure the growth of the Nigerian economy.

The Chinese delegation were later conducted round the Nigerian Culture House by the Director General.