NCAC Celebrates World Handicraft Day

• Harps on local tourism development

(By Udeme Clement):

The Director General, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, OON, has said that celebration of the World Handicrafts day, which took place last Thursday June 10, 2021, should be used to reflect on the founding principles of World Craft Council.

He added that the programme becomes imperative to foster economic development of crafts through related activities in all regions.

Otunba Runsewe said this in Abuja, at the occasion to mark the World Handicraft Day.

Runsewe, who doubled as the President of World Craft Council, African Region, said the Council is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation founded in 1964, to promote friendship, foster economic development through income generating craft related activities, organise art-related exchange programmes and exhibitions, all tailored towards encouraging craftsmen around the world.

Runsewe said since his assumption of office as the President of the Council in African Region, he has been working tirelessly towards integrating key players in the Arts and Crafts sub-sector towards promoting the best of African’s Arts and Craft products, as well as popularising them all over the world.

Runsewe also brings his dynamism and strength of character to bear in making the International Arts and Crafts Expo (INAC) , a global fiesta, where stakeholders all over the world meet to network and exchange views on global best practices in Arts and Crafts.

He stressed; “Apart from robust and strategic engagement with foreign missions in Nigeria to create the required synergy beneficial to all, we also led campaigns in South Africa, Ghana, Botswana, Burkina Faso and so on.

“There is need for government to increase its funding for Arts and Crafts sub-sector for practitioners to have start-up capital.
Oil is good but exhaustible, while Arts and Crafts are inexhaustible.”

In a paper titled:
‘Economic Importance of Crafts’, the keynote speaker, former lecturer in Department of Fine Arts, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Dr. Cornel Agim, enumerated the economic benefits of Arts and crafts to include; job creation, creating new skills, building and amplifying economic harmony through cultural exchanges, as well as sustaining a globally engaged economy.

Other Resource Persons, who spoke at the event said it would be shocking to note that most of the things that make people seek tourism abroad are available in Nigeria, thus underscoring the need to promote domestic tourism.

Participants at the occasion were drawn from selected secondary schools within FCT, stakeholders in the industry, media practitioners and members of diplomatic community.

The World Craft Council is in five regions, namely Asia, Europe, Africa, Latin America, North America and Africa.
Guests were treated to a musical display by the Performing Arts department of NCAC.
The world handicrafts day is celebrated all over the world between from 10th – 17th June every year.

• DG NCAC Otunba Runsewe (2nd right) the acting President of FTAN Mr.Nkereuwem Onung (first right), Dr. Cornel Agim of Nsibi Gallery and other dignitaries on a tour of the Arts and Craft Gallery during World Handicrafts day in Abuja

• DG NCAC Otunba Runsewe with other dignitaries on the High table, during the World Handicraft day lecture in Abuja