Nigeria, South Korea bilateral relations good for trade – Says NCAC DG, Otunba Runsewe

• Says both countries will get mutual cultural benefits

(Report by Udeme Clement):

The Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Segun Runsewe, has said that the bilateral relations between Nigeria and South Korea should be explored for mutual cultural benefits of both countries.

Otunba Runsewe made this known when Ambassador of the Republic of South Korea, His Excellency, Kim Young Chae paid him a courtesy visit in his office.

The NCAC DG informed : “Nigeria has benefitted a lot from the mutual relationship with South Korea in areas of education, poverty eradication, trade and many more.

“The trade between both countries as at 2011, was well over $3 million. So, there is need to reinforce the mutual cultural relationship that exists among South Korea, NCAC and Nigeria, which dates back to 2010.’

More so, the meeting held at NCAC’s headquarters in Abuja, paved the way for extensive deliberation, as Otunba Runsewe took time to inform the South Korean Ambassador on the forthcoming programme of NCAC, called International Arts and Crafts Expo (INAC), to seek participation of South Korea.

He also sought partnership with Republic of South Korea in organisng a joint exhibition in Nigeria and in South Korea, noting that this would be very rewarding for both countries.

On capacity building, Otunba Runsewe also informed the Ambassador that the need for capacity building for NCAC staff on seminars, workshop and conferences on arts and culture, festivals, exchange visits, as well as exhibitions between South Korea and NCAC cannot be over emphasised.

Thus, the South Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Kim Young Chae, in his response, said that the embassy of South Korea would be interested in joint programme for school children and other cultural programmes that would make Koreans to understand Nigerians better.

He proposed a joint food festival, as well as Arts and Crafts exhibition later in the year.

Ambassador Kim disclosed that the cultural centre would soon be upgraded, so that NCAC could use it to project Nigerian films and programmes.

He promised to work with NCAC, to achieve sustainable mutual understanding between South Korea and Nigeria.
The picture below showing South Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Kim Young Chae in a chat with the Director General National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe.

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