Cultural development, festivals solution to Nigerian disunity - Runsewe

The Director-General of National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, has called for intensive cultural development and festivals to achieve the desired unity in the country.

Speaking yesterday in Jos, the Plateau State capital, at the official opening of the 51st National Technical Stakeholder's Meeting, Runsewe said nothing brings people of diverse ethnoreligious backgrounds together like cultural festivals.

He said there is no state in Nigeria that does not have cultural products relevant to it, and that what is necessary is to enhance its visibility and socio-economic relevance.

He stressed that the stakeholders meeting was to address the forthcoming National Festival of Art and Culture (NAFEST) which will be hosted by Plateau State, and will be taking place in Jos by November this year.

Runsewe said the decision to offer Plateau State the hosting right of NAFEST 2020 is a recognition of the commitment of Governor Simon Lalong to the development of culture sector in Nigeria.

He said COVID-19 protocol would be observed during the festival.

In his remarks, Governor Lalong said hosting the event 24 years after it last got the opportunity, will also give the state the opportunity to show the giant strides the government has taken to ensure the peaceful coexistence of the people of the state.