The Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Segun Runsewe, has been commended by the diplomatic community for contributing meaningfully to the socio-political and economic development of the country through the rebranding of the arts and culture sector.
The High Commissioner of Cameroon to Nigeria and the Doyen of the Diplomatic Community in Abuja, His Excellency Salaheddine Abbas Ibrahim, gave the commendation 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 commendation for the National Council for Arts and Culture under the dynamic leadership of Runsewe, acknowledging the passion, drive, records and achievements of Runsewe in the arts and culture.
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 the Council to open up vistas of collaboration where the diplomatic community can tap in to showcase their cultural strengths.
Earlier in his welcome address, 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 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 get 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 5p.m. to the cultural village to shop and feel safe and comfortable when he is there,” he said.
He promised to ensure that the diplomatic community has unhindered access to the cultural market.
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.
