Nigeria to boost ties with Cuba via Arts and Culture
The Nigeria government is planning to strengthen it’s bilateral ties with the Republic of Cuba using arts and culture as potential tools.
The Director General, National Council for Arts and Culture, NCAC, Mr. Olusegun Runsewe made this known when he played host to the Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba, Her Excellency, Clara Escandell who paid him a courtesy visit.
Mr. Runsewe said; ”both Countries have very rich cultural heritage and the similarities also existing in music and dance should be explored to create room for easy affiliation.”
The Director General stated that ”the NCAC has provided a platform for the diplomatic community to gather and rob minds on cultural issues to engender cultural diplomacy.”
Mr. Runsewe further stated that the International Arts and Crafts, INAC, Expo also brought other international community under one umbrella to network their arts and crafts to the the rest of the world.
He however promised that during this year’s INAC Expo, the Republic of Cuba would feature prominently and given an opportunity to speak to the International Media on ways to collaborate with the youths for possible cultural exchange programmes.
Commendation
Mr Runsewe commended Ambassador Escandell for dressing in Nigerian attire for the visit and promised to visit the Republic of Cuba soon.
The Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba, Her Excellency, Clara Escandell said she was in the Council to see the man who had projected the image of Nigeria culturally both home and abroad as well as working tirelessly to use arts and culture to show the need for peaceful co-existence among countries of the world.
Ambassador Escandell stated that she was also driven by the burning desire to acquaint herself with the Council’s programmes as the seat of culture in the country.
She reiterated the need ”for stronger collaboration between the NCAC and the Republic of Cuba to harness the rich cultural heritage of both countries for export.”
The Cuban Ambassador used the visit to call on the diplomatic community to always use culture as a veritable tool to build strong bilateral relationships in theory missions.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
