THE Director General, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Olusegun Runsewe has described Nigeria as the heart and soul of African culture. Runsewe, who led a 22-man delegate from eight African countries to the Arts and Creative Design Training in Shenzhen, China, made the statement at the opening ceremony of the training programme.
The NCAC boss added that Nigeria, being the giant of Africa, was the most heterogeneous nation in the continent with very rich and diverse cultural heritage, making it the heart and soul of African culture.
Noting that China and Nigeria shared a long history of robust diplomatic relationship, the DG said the training will further strengthen the already existing cordial relationship between the two countries.
While appreciating the Chinese government for the opportunity given to Africans to benefit from Chinese experience in the area of using the arts, culture and design to drive the process of development, he called for greater partnership between China and Nigeria for the benefit of the two countries.
Runsewe disclosed that China and Nigeria have many things in common such as their rich and diverse cultural heritage as well their variety of fascinating artistic products, expressing Nigeria’s readiness to tap from the knowledge and expertise of China in developing Nigeria’s arts and culture sector.
He also commended the Shenzhen administration for developing the province from a mere fishing settlement of about 300,000 peasant farmers and fishermen in 1979 to a modernized international city with a population of 20 million people.
Receiving the African delegation earlier, Deputy Director, Shenzhen Administration of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ms. Yang, stated that the training was aimed at strengthening the cooperation between Shenzhen and Africa in the areas of culture and the creative and design industry.
The seven-day training included lectures, group discussions and interactive sessions, as well as visits to frontline arts and creative design industries in China.
Eight African countries that participated in the training include Nigeria, Angola, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sao Tome and Principe, Mozambique, Equatorial Guinea and Seychelles.
