South Korea, Nigeria pledge stronger cultural ties

The Director-General of National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe, has assured of his council’s preparedness to participate in the next Korean cultural festival stressing the intent was to build an everlasting relationship with the Koreans in so many aspects, especially in terms of cultural festivals.

Speaking to the South Korean ambassador to Nigeria, Noh Kyu-Duk during a courtesy call to his office in Abuja, Runsewe implored his host to use his good office to accommodate some intelligent, hard working staff of the council in the series of scholarship awards. He said it will be delighted if the envoy could also partner with NCAC in the area of language development strategy.

Runsewe said, “I want to assure you that as the custodians of culture in Nigeria, if you grant us your support in capacity building for our staff in the areas of coordination, organizing of seminars, workshops and conferences on arts and culture, we shall be extremely grateful and will seek to return the gesture in the area of our competence.”

He seized the moment to invite Mr. Noh Kyu-Duk to the forthcoming NAFEST saying, “I want to appeal to you to be our special guest of honour in our forthcoming NAFEST coming up in Kaduna later this year. It will interest you to know that National festival for Arts and Culture (NAFEST) is a strong avenue to showcase our culture, and preach the message of unity among the various states in the country.
“As regards the African Arts and crafts Expo (AFAC), it is also a channel to promote our culture among the various African nations. We shall be honored if you will allow us to declare one day of the event as South Korean day.”

While reminding the ambassador of the benefits the council has enjoyed in years passed, Runsewe appealed to the ambassador to re-open such vistas for reunification.
He stressed that the council would be willing to partner with the embassy in the training of craftsmen in the area of packing and finishing skills of Nigerian craft products.
Responding, the ambassador poured encomiums on his guest for being a round peg in round hole.
He observed, “Having read your profile, and your achievements at the tourism industry, I have a strong conviction that the culture sector shall wear a new look during your tenure.”
His told the DG that South Korean has more than 30 cultural centres in Africa, and was proud to make Nigeria the coordinating centre in Africa.

He added: “We often organize cultural contests among nations annually, for students in the various countries as preliminary contest while the main event comes up in Korea. Nigeria came the overall best in the year 2015 and second best in 2016.”

The ambassador acknowledged the talents God endowed Nigerians with in so many facets of life more especially in cultural displays. He promised to give the Director-General all the needed cooperation in his new assignment knowing full well that he is a man of ideas and vision.

Concluding, the number one promoter of Nigerian culture, seized the opportunity of the call to decorate his the envoy with the council’s pin crest while the South Korean number one citizen in Nigeria reciprocated by giving the DG a letter of invitation to his country.