Nigeria, South Africa partner for arts, crafts development

The development of Nigeria’s art and crafts sector, among other issue, will dominate discussions at the forthcoming Nigeria-South Africa bi-national commission summit holding later in the year.

The Director General National Council for Arts and Culture(NCAC), Otunba Segun Runsewe, revealed this during a courtesy call on the South African High Commission in Abuja.

Addressing the delegation from NCAC, the South African Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Bobby Moroe, expressed his delight at the visit, saying it was auspicious as both countries had already signed several Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to boost bilateral cooperation.

Moroe said art and crafts development would be prioritised in the next summit of both countries.

Moroe noted that the visit of Runsewe and his team would signal a new era for the culture, creative industries (CCI) of both nations, stressing that the Nigeria-South Africa bi-national commission is a veritable platform where issues of development are deliberated upon, followed by strategic implementation plans.

The envoy revealed that at least 34 agreements would be reached at the bi-national commission summit, which President Muhammadu Buhari is attending, noting that the art and crafts sector will be a major beneficiary in this year’s outing.

While thanking the envoy for receiving him and his management team, Runsewe observed that South Africa was a country with great organisational capabilities and vast resources.

Runsewe also seized the opportunity to intimate the ambassador on the forthcoming International Arts and Crafts Expo (INAC), which will be held in November this year.

While requesting that South Africa maximises the platform to showcase its rich cultural heritage in the expo scheduled to hold in Abuja, just like other countries around the globe that have indicated interest to participate .

Moroe commended the INAC initiative, promising to interface with the authorities back home with a view to ensuring South Africa’s full participation.

He thanked Runsewe for the locally made gifts of laptop and ipad pouches, which the DG presented to him.

The Director General also decorated the S.A envoy and his staff with the official NCAC pinup thereby conferring on him the dual status of South Africa and NCAC Ambassador.