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Nigeria’s cultural integration getting international accolades
Chief Olusegun Runsewe and some of the international delegates at the recent 2022 edition of International Arts and Craft Expo
Nigeria’s cultural integration getting international accolades
By Taiye Olayemi, News Agency of Nigeria
In view of the divergent cultural heritage across the globe, it has become important to embrace cultural integration and diplomacy to foster understanding across tribes and ensure peace, unity and harmony.
Cultural integration, or referred to as globalisation, is when individuals from one culture adopt practices from another without diminishing their own.
Also, cultural diplomacy is a type of public diplomacy and soft power that includes the exchange of ideas, information, art, language and other aspects of culture among nations and their people to foster mutual understanding.
In recognition of the benefits of cultural integration to national development, Chief Olusegun Runsewe, under his mandate as the Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), has created a common ground for world peace.
This has been evident in his numerous contributions to the process of uniting Nigerians with other nationals of the world.
Runsewe has been able to engage people from different races in cultural diplomacy and integration through the annual National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) and the International Arts and Crafts Expo (INAC).
During the 2022 INAC Edition, most of the Ambassadors from other nations commended Runsewe for his unflinching efforts in uniting nationals from other countries with Nigerians through the exploration of culture.
Juan Reus, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Spain, said he was attracted to attend the expo due to the laudable exhibitions held by NCAC over the years.
According to Reus, Runsewe’s contributions to development of world cultures, through INAC, is highly commendable as the Spanish would continue to exhibit in subsequent editions of INAC.
Clara Pulido-Escandell, Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, commended Runsewe’s selfless efforts in ensuring cultural exchange programmes between the Cubans and Nigerians is constantly strengthened.
Pulido-Escandell said this is yielding fruitful results.
David Velasquez, Venezuelan Ambassador to Nigeria said, “It is a honour showcasing our arts and crafts to the world.
This is the strongest opportunity for cultural exchange and collaborations, we should uphold this.
“Otunba Runsewe has been a strong cultural pillar in Nigeria.
We love his commitment toward showcasing cultures across the globe to foster understanding and we appreciate this.
”
Runsewe, through his efforts over the years, continues to bag both local and International awards.
Runsewe receiving an award as China Man of the Year 2021 by the Chinese Industrial and Commercial Enterprises Association
Recently, Runsewe was given a commitment award by the Chinese Community in Nigeria, for his selfless commitment to the promotion of arts and culture between Nigeria and China.
He got the award during the Chinese 2022 Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day, which was held in Lagos.
Dr Eric Ni, Chairman, Chinese Industrial and Commercial Enterprises Association, said that the Chinese Community had enjoyed seamless cultural exchange programmes, due to the support enjoyed from NCAC and Runsewe.
Dr Matthew Uwaekwe, Co-ordinator, Nigeria-China Business Council, during the ceremony, said that Runsewe emerged the “China Man of the Year” after a voting session within the Chinese consulate.
Uwaekwe said that Runsewe had worked tirelessly to build a strong cultural tourism relationship between Nigeria and China.
He said that Runsewe had in various ways convinced the world that Nigerian culture, in its diversity, had the capacity to foster unity and peace among the people of both countries and the world.
According to him, members of the Chinese community in Nigeria are elated at the pace and passion at which Runsewe brought to bear in his assignment as Nigeria culture chief.
“Otunba Olusegun Runsewe has done well for the country.
He has the vision to promote the cultural relations between China and Nigeria, and we therefore confer on him China Man of the Year Award.
“He has emerged the China Man of the Year after a voting session within the Chinese consulate, so this award is from the Chinese Community,” he said.
Similarly, Runsewe emerged the best promoter and developer of Nigerian culture, arts and crafts.
This was conferred on him by the National Associations of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) during the NANTA Eminent Persons Awards, in 2021, held in Abuja.
Mrs Susan Akporaiye, NANTA’s National President, said that NCAC under the leadership of Runsewe, deserved the award due to the fact that the council also joined in combating COVID-19 pandemic since 2020.
She said that while the frontline health workers worked tirelessly to get vaccines for COVID-19 pandemic, the council also went all out to produce local face masks and hand sanitisers, using local products within the country, as a way to help curtail the spread of the virus.
According to Akporiaye, Runsewe also repositioned NAFEST and the International Arts and Crafts Expo (INAC) such that they attract more of local and international tourists.
“Otunba Runsewe has been a pillar of support for us in the travel and tourism industries, when we need his help within the shortest time, he attends to us promptly.
“Aside this, Otunba has helped the nation to properly project and rebrand its local cultural products, which are INAC and NAFEST.
“We have seen large production of face masks and hand sanitisers since 2020, which were produced with our local materials, used to curtail the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.
“These are beautiful contributions toward the promotion of culture, arts and crafts and should be appreciated,” she said.
NCAC is just one of the numerous parastatals, established by the Federal Government, with the responsibility to promote culture and tourism.
When other parastatals wake up to their responsibilities, like NCAC, Nigeria will definitely be a choice destination for tourism and leisure.
(NANFeatures)
*If used, please credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
The National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) has called on the Nigeria Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) to harness culture and tourism potential, to assist in boosting the nation’s economy.
The Director- General of the NCAC, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, gave the advice on Wednesday when the NATOP executives, led by its National President, Mrs Ime Udo, paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Abuja.
Runsewe, who said that the nation’s tourism destinations were largely untapped, urged the association to harness and develop those potentials to improve the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
“There are many tourism destinations that are not harnessed and developed in this country.
“Kogi State, for instance, has a major history tourism profile such as Mango Park, Ajayi Crowther’s house and the First Governor General, Lord Lugard’s house.
Nobody has tapped it.
“So, we would have used these ones in Kogi for tourist centres for anybody coming to go and see,’’ he said.
The director-general stressed the need for stakeholders in the tourism sector to devise strategies in marrying both cultural and artificial tourism together while marketing tourism potentials to the world.
“When I was in the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), any country I travelled to, the first place I go in the morning is the prison of that country.
“And people have been saying what is wrong with this man.
What has prison gone to do with the tourism.
“When you are going to market and sell your country, you must know the strength, opportunities and weaknesses of your country in that country.
“So, this has come as a time we must quickly understand that NATOP is very key to improving the GDP of Nigeria,’’ Runsewe said.
Runsewe recalled that in 2016, he took all the state commissioners for tourism to South Africa to tour her tourism destinations and understand the word tourism economy.
“When we got to South Africa, I said to them that I want you to practically come and see.
South Africa is selling cultural tourism.
“Dubai is selling artificial tourism.
You need to understand all these.
“Now how do you go about it, when we got to Nelson Madella’s house and the then Commissioner for Tourism in Kano State said the house was not large when compared to our past leaders.
’’
According to Runsewe, Nigerians need to quickly tap cultural contents that could be marketed by the tourism strategy in the county.
Earlier, Udo said that the purpose of the visit was to partner with the NCAC in areas of promoting culture to drive tourism sector.
According to her, NCAC through its activities largely promotes the culture of Nigeria which is one of our drivers of tourism in Nigeria.
“For every National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) or International Arts and Crafts (INAC) Expo that is being celebrated, there is an opportunity to grow the traffic of tourists into Nigeria once the synergy and collaboration are there,’’ he said
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
The National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), saddled with the responsibility of organising the annual National Festival for Arts and Culture (NAFEST), has inaugurated a Local Organising Committee ( LOC ) to put the event together.
Chief Olusegun Runsewe, Director-General, NCAC during the inauguration
in Lagos, said serving the nation should be considered a greater honour than material possession.
Runsewe in a statement, urged members of the LOC to bring together new ideas and work as a team to add value to the iconic festival.
He said the festival, which had been slated to hold from Nov. 7 to 13 in Lagos, would have events unfolded at the Teslim Balogun Stadium and the National Stadium, Surulere in Lagos.
He said the Lagos and federal governments were working unanimously to ensure a successful festival.
He noted that this was geared towards attracting the attention of the world to the massive socio-economic development of Lagos State and Nigeria in general.
According to him, the involvement of the private sector tourism leadership cannot be over emphasised as they would be seen to market and mobilise stakeholders to the overall benefits of the festival.
Some of the individuals inaugurated in the committee were Mr Nkereweum Onung, National President, Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN); Mrs Susan Akporiaye, National President, National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA); Mrs Ime Udo of the National Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) and others.
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NewsSourceCredit: NAN
The National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), organisers of the annual National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST), on Friday said the 2022 edition of the festival would hold from Nov. 7 to Nov.13 in Lagos State.
Chief Olusegun Runsewe, Director-General, NCAC, disclosed this during a meeting with the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the end of the three-day National Stakeholders Technical Meeting held in Lagos.
According to him, the festival will hold at
the National Stadium and Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.
Runsewe said that some of the programmes for the festival included skills acquisition programmes, entrepreneurship roundtable, states parade and different forms of competitions.
He said these competitions were designed to instill morals and educate the younger generation on the essence of embracing African culture.
“The 2022 edition of NAFEST, known as Eko NAFEST is to hold in Lagos from Monday, Nov. 7 to Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022.
“This is getting bigger and better, it holds a lot for every tourist because Lagos State will be unravelling lots of attractions to the world.
“For the competitive events, like the previous ones, we will be having indigenous cuisine, drama, music, dance, arts, crafts, archery, Ayo board game and essay writing competitions,” he said.
In his remarks, Sanwo-Olu commended Runsewe’s efforts in organising the festival, describing it as his dogged patriotism in promoting Nigeria’s unity and cohesion.
He appreciated Runsewe for always putting Nigeria first in his manner of speech, public conduct, dress sense, and above all, consistent call for the best of Nigerian culture and tradition.
He noted that the unity of Nigeria should be paramount in the effort of using culture as a vehicle of promoting national unity and cohesion.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
The National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), organisers of the forthcoming National Festival for Arts and Culture (NAFEST), on Wednesday said that all programmes for the festival had been designed to promote morals.
Chief Olusegun Runsewe, Director-General, NCAC, disclosed this during the ongoing 53rd National Stakeholders’ Technical Meeting on NAFEST, held in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the 35th NAFEST will be hosted by Lagos State, with attendance of delegates from all the 36 states of the federation, to hold in November.
Runsewe said that a programme syllabus had been properly designed for the festival to address the increasing moral decadence.
“NAFEST’s programme syllabus is designed to promote morals, this is an aspect of our culture close to my heart.
“Our syllabus for the 35th NAFEST is designed to promote sound morals among our children, we have put our unborn children into consideration.
“Our guide is that we have to promote our cultural heritage and uphold morals, this will be evident in all the activities that will be coming up as well as the competitive events,” he said.
Runsewe urged all state cultural ambassadors to work tirelessly on the promotion of indigenous fabrics and products generally.
According to him, this will go a long way in boosting the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He said that the creative industry should not be relegated but developed.
He said the promotion of local products was quite important considering the rate at which the Chinese now engaged in mass production of Nigeria’s local fabrics like Ankara and Adire.
He commended Ogun for investing in consistent production of the indigenous Adire fabric and also earmarking Fridays as days to wear local fabrics.
Runsewe hinted that during the competitive events for the 35th NAFEST, states would be allowed to explore cultures from other states to encourage cultural integration.
He encouraged states to participate in the NAFEST skills acquisition programme which would also give room to train-the-trainers programme.
Earlier, Prof. Rasak Ojo-Bakare, Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture in Ekiti, suggested that adjudicators should be trained on the precise template to look out for.
He said this would guide against misinterpretation and suspicion.
NAN reports that the Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union Nigeria (RATTAWU), National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) and the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) pledged to support the commemoration of the 35th anniversary of NAFEST.
The meeting had in attendance some state commissioners for tourism, arts and culture; delegates from NIHOTOUR; National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO); Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC); Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisations (CBAAC).
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has assured tourists across the country that the state will host the most colourful National Festival for Arts and Culture (NAFEST) as Lagos bags the hosting right.
Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by Mrs Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, the state Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, gave the assurance during the 53rd National Stakeholders Technical Meeting on the 35th NAFEST, held on Tuesday in Lagos.
“I assure you and the largest tourist community that all hands are on deck, facilities are ready, plans are in top gear, not only for Lagos State to host the most colourful festival but also to emerge the overall winner in the Eko NAFEST 2022.
“I assure you of a memorable time, adequate security and emergency services, we will organise an event to portray the standard Lagos State is known for.
“We are delighted and honoured to be granted the hosting right for NAFEST 2022 which was keenly contested by three other states,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu noted that as a prelude to the festival, Lagos State would hold a pre-NAFEST event for seven days.
He said this was to herald the Eko NAFEST 2022 and to highlight the rich cultural heritage of all the local government areas in the state.
According to him, a delegation had visited the National Council for Arts Culture (NCAC) for the pre-NAFEST maiden meeting to obtain details of hosting the festival which will bring delegates from all 36 states of the federation.
He said based on the report, the state had worked hard to ensure that the available facilities meet all the criteria set by NCAC.
Earlier, Akinbile-Yusuf, who was represented by Mrs Oyinade Nathan-Marsh, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, said the festival would give the state the unique opportunity to celebrate the famed ‘Spirit of Lagos’.
This, she said was the rugged, resilient, determined, and dauntless to-do spirit every Lagosian possessed.
“I appreciate the National Council of Arts and Culture under the able leadership of the Director-General, Otunba Segun Runsewe, for this amazing opportunity presented to Lagos to host the notable personalities, artists, creatives and everyone in general at this year’s NAFEST.
“I am convinced that this meeting will afford us the opportunity to exchange ideas and develop a robust template for the 35th edition of NAFEST come November.
” I call on everyone here present to put on our creative and thinking caps as well as have all hands on deck for effective coordination, strategic planning, adequate preparation, and execution of ideas.
“On our part in Lagos, we have made adequate preparations to play host to this grand national event, as our amiable governor has rightly made known earlier,” she said.
Chief Olusegun Runsewe, Director-General, NCAC, organisers of the annual festival, revealed the theme of the festival as “Culture and Peaceful Coexistence”.
Runsewe said that the theme of the programme was carefully selected in direct response to the current security challenges facing the nation and the need for sustainable peace, social harmony and national unity.
“You will agree with me that any nation that aspires to national development must necessarily lay a foundation for peace, social harmony, mutual understanding and tolerance which are the ingredients of national development,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the NAFEST technical committee members thereafter held a meeting to finalise the entire planning process.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
The National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) says it will use the opportunity of the 35th National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) to showcase 37 wonders of Nigeria to the world.
Chief Olusegun Runsewe, Director-General, NCAC, said this in a statement on Monday in Lagos State.
Runsewe said Gov.
Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State would have the honours of unveiling the 37 wonders at the annual festival slated to hold in November, in Lagos.
According to him, the unveiling is thought to be a source of inspiration for Nigerians to tap from the enormous potential the nation is endowed with.
He said: ” I want to showcase beyond our dances and food culture, the 37 wonders of Nigeria and there is no better place to do so than at Eko NAFEST, which Gov Sanwo-Olu will unveil in November.
” It is no longer in doubt that Lagos, Nigeria’s most celebrated city state, will host the 2022 edition of NAFEST.
” There are also no controversies, that NAFEST is Nigeria’s biggest cultural tourism export, and defining the values and strength in what unifies Nigerians than those things that tend to lubricate our socioeconomic and political dislocations.
” This festival will help power new tourism traffic arrivals, showcase the city culture, night life, hospitality, commerce and the wonders of Lagos and Nigeria,” he said.
Runsewe said that each festival theme birthed the prosperity and profiles of the nation’s sub culture and tradition, highlighting the intrinsic values and attractive inclusiveness.
He said the festival would help to promote the spirit of togetherness, unity, love and connectivity.
He assured that the 35th NAFEST would feature education on various ethnic groups cuisines: food culture, soup, snacks, beverages and more in order to unveil amazing hospitality wonders.
” From Kaduna to Rivers, Edo to Plateau to Ekiti and now Lagos state, NAFEST runs on the gasoline of Nigeria’s banquet of festivals, dances, indigenous culinary expressions, history, artifacts, tongues and humongous display of infinite energy and patriotism.
” All these propel endless research about the richness and unbelievable attitude of the people.
” Students and observers of our strategic evolving cultural renaissance through NAFEST must admit that beyond our festivals, Nigeria has a new song on natural resources and environmental conservation.
” Indeed, our indigenous arts and crafts position this reality and undeniably a bankable economy, tailed with prosperity and a funnel to attracting international tourism spending, creating rural jobs,” he said.
According to him, Lagos state must strategically reposition its socioeconomic reach as Africa’s destination for commerce and tourism trade, through the eyes of NAFEST and the unveiling of 37 wonders of Nigeria.
He assured Nigerians of a season of culture and tourism rebirth and rebranding.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
Lagos State Governor Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu said that the state has finalized plans to host the most colorful edition of the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) scheduled for November. Sanwo-Olu provided security on Thursday by receiving a delegation from the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) led by Director General Chief Segun Runsewe, the main organizers of the festival. According to a statement issued by Runsewe, the delegation was at the governor's office to formally present a blueprint for the festival and determine the state's level of readiness to host the 2022 edition of the festival. The Nigerian News Agency reports that NAFEST is an annual cultural festival that brings together contingents from all 36 states of the federation and the FCT in a host state to showcase the nation's diverse cultural heritage in arts, crafts and everything. Sanwo-Olu said that a delegation from the state had visited NCAC for an inaugural pre-NAFEST meeting to interact and get details on the organization of the festival. He said that according to the report, the state government had to upgrade its facilities to meet all the criteria set by the NCAC. He noted that this was done to allow the state to not only host the biggest and most colorful festival, but also emerge as the overall winner of the party. He revealed that as a prelude to the festival, Lagos State will hold a Pre-NAFEST event for seven days. He said that this was aimed at showcasing the rich cultural heritage of all local government areas in the state which would therefore herald EkoNAFEST 2022. In his response, Runsewe congratulated the Lagos State Government for winning the hosting right. for NAFEST 2022, which was heavily contested by three other states. He said that the festival, which is the most important cultural event in Nigeria, had been a platform to unite the nation through art and culture. He reiterated that the festival, which gets richer, bigger and better with each edition, will provide a solid platform for the state, which is the center of excellence, to bring its well-known finesse to make EKO NAFEST 2022 the best of its type in the history of the festival given its trajectory. “The essence of the visit is that we interact and inform you about the details of the organization of the festival that will bring together contingents from the 36 states of the federation and the FCT in the state of Lagos for seven days,” he said. He explained that the festival would have far-reaching benefits for Lagos residents with a positive impact on the state's economy in the areas of hotel accommodation, transportation, small-scale businesses and vendors. Runsewe expressed the need for the state's Local Organizing Committee (LOC) to work closely with the National Organizing Committee (NOC) for effective coordination. According to him, the governor's wife, Ms. Ibijoke Sonwo-Olu, will be crowned NAFEST mother, "Mama NAFEST 22", during the national technical stakeholders meeting to be held at the end of the month. “This will also give you the platform to host the children during Eko NAFEST 2022,” she said. The highlight of the meeting was the exchange of cultural gifts between the Governor and the NCAC CEO.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
The Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture officials have visited Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, seeking collaboration to host the the 45th anniversary of the National Festival for Arts and Culture (NAFEST). The team was led by the Ministry’s Commissioner, Mrs Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf. Akinbile-Yusuf said that the collaboration was expected to deepen the economic potential in the sector and create job opportunities for the younger generation. “We want the first lady to partner with the Ministry in areas of arts and crafts which can create job opportunities for the teeming youths of the state. “It is very clear that the first lady is so passionate about the youths in Lagos State and has been at the forefront empowering and training them to be useful to the state,” she said. The commissioner noted that diplomats, tourists and other stakeholders in the arts and culture sector would be part of this event. She said the exhibitions would showcase different artworks such as those made with tie and dye materials as well as others made of tin, plastic and rubber to beautify the body. Akinbile-Yusuf noted that during the recent best of Lagos familiarisation tour organised by the ministry, one of the tourism sites visited was the Oshodi Arts Gallery in Ikorodu which housed so many artefacts. She said about 50 of such exhibitors would participate in the forthcoming event to generate revenue and ultimately improve the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the state. “We want to bring facilitators that will come and explain all the things we can do with our arts and crafts like the adire. “There are so many things we can use it to achieve, we can use it for bag making, we can also use it for shoemaking aside from just wearing it and with this, we can empower so many people in the state,” she said. Akinbile-Yusuf also gave an insight into the 45th anniversary of NAFEST which had been approved by Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to be hosted by Lagos State. The Commissioner notified the first lady of her nomination as ‘Mama NAFEST’, being the co-host of the event. She said during the festival, a day would be set aside for children at the Teslim Balogun Stadium for training on different arts and crafts, in addition with a prize-winning competition for youths. Responding, Sanwo-Olu assured them of her full support, expressing appreciation for the way the ministry had promoted tourism to aid development. She advised Lagos residents in the Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas to participate in the upcoming event and display their culture. She said that everything peculiar to Lagos would be showcased at the event. Officials on the entourage included the Senior Special Assistant on Tourism, Arts and Culture to Gov. Sanwo-Olu, Mr Tunji Seymour as well as Directors from the ministry.
(NAN)
Otunba Segun Runsewe, Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC),organiser of the National Festival for Arts and Culture (NAFEST), on Friday said 1600 Plateau Indigenes had benefited from NAFEST’s free skill acquisition programme.
Runsewe disclosed this during the graduation ceremony of the beneficiaries held at Langfield Leisure Park, Rayfield, Jos, Plateau.
News Agency of Nigeria reports that the beneficiaries were trained in tailoring, soap making, cosmetology, make-up and gele tieing.
They were given certificates of participation at the end of the programme.
The director-general expressed excitement over the huge number of the state indigenes that indicated interest in benefiting from the free skill acquisition programme.
He said this indicated that Plateau indigenes were more interested in using their hands to fend for themselves rather than engaging in all forms of criminalities.
” We have 1600 Plateau Indigenes trained in tailoring, make-up, cosmetology, gele tieing and soap making; we have been moving round states for this and we have never had such number of interested persons in skill acquisition.
” This indicates that things are turning around in Plateau; it shows that you are ready to use your hands to work, this is what the Chinese and Indians are doing to improve their economy, it will also help our economy and society.
” I beg you to start doing something right from now, from what you have learnt, so far.
” Please join hands with Gov. Simon Lalong in moving the state to the next level, this is very encouraging and overwhelming, I am happy,” he said.
Runsewe encouraged Nigerian hoteliers to patronise local products, most especially local soaps, to ensure that the cost of hotel accommodation was reduced which would also attract investors and tourists.
One of the beneficiaries of the free skill acquisition programme, Rita Gotip, a National Diploma holder, appreciated the organisers of the festival for impacting on Plateau Indigenes positively.
Gotip who learned Cosmetology said she had wanted to be an entrepreneur and had been watching out for such kind of opportunity for the past 3 years when she finished her National diploma programme at the National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, near Jos.
She expressed excitement as she could now produce bathing and washing soaps as well as shear butter jelly without supervision.
” I am happy and I thank the organisers of this programme, we didn’t pay for this and I can now produce body cream and soaps for sale.
” All I need now is a little capital to start up,” she said.
Also, Nurudeen Mohammed, 14-year-old primary four pupil, said he participated in the programme to perfect his skills in tailoring, which he said, he achieved, and commended the organisers for the gesture.
Similarly, Habiba Jubril, who is seeking admission into Usman Dan Fodio University, opted for make-up and gele tieing as she said she wished to assist her parents who were not financially strong to educate their children.
” I came for this programme to be able to work and assist my parents; I thank NCAC and Plateau for this gesture, God bless them,” Jubril said.
Edited By: Abdullahi Yusuf
(NAN)
