Kaduna set to generate billions from culture sector – Runsewe

The Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Segun Runsewe, has declared that Kaduna State has all it takes to be the cultural hub of Nigeria contributing billions of naira to the national economy from the Arts and Culture sector alone.

Runsewe made the revelation when he visited the state along with some management Staff of NCAC and 21 State Directors of Culture for the 47th meeting of Chief Executives of Culture of the Federation (CEC).

The group led by the DG, took the opportunity to go on a facility tour preparatory to the 30th National Festival for Arts and Culture (NAFEST) holding in Kaduna State from October 14 to 21 this year.

Having toured the Kaduna International Trade Fare Complex, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Conference Centre with an Ultra-modern Theatre amongst other impressive facilities, the DG concluded that Kaduna was now fully poised to take advantage of the numerous amenities on ground starting with NAFEST to make a huge cultural statement.

The aim, according to Runsewe, is to use Kaduna as a benchmark and a model for other states to start harnessing their respective cultural potentials which he noted would translate to job creation and massive economic gains for Nigeria.

Speaking during the tour, Runsewe explained that he was introducing a new dimension to NAFEST by going on a facility tour before the event, “this time, we are going on a facility tour of all the venues we are using to know how prepared the state is and that’s why we have 21 Directors from different states of the federation present and we are going on the tour with them. The whole idea is to make sure that the venues are set and can deliver a befitting festival this year.” He added.

Fielding more questions from journalists, the NCAC helmsman was positive that Nigeria can use cultural diplomacy to address most of her issues especially the current trend of hate speeches and agitations in different sections of the country.

“The best option for us to solve this issue of hate speeches is cultural diplomacy which is what we are going to adopt this time and we are re-awakening the consciousness of our people that we can use our culture to solve a lot of problems in our society,” Runsewe added.

Mathew Dadiya, Abuja