The Director General, Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution, Prof. Bakut T. Bakut and the Chief Executive of National Institute For Cultural Orientation (NICO), Ado Yahuza are going to discuss culture as a vehicle for national development today.
Both speakers will be leading this deliberation at the ongoing International Arts and Crafts (INAC) Expo, at Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja.
They will herald talks on values of culture as peace harbinger for national development on the podium of the investment forum of the expo where solutions to Nigeria’s socioeconomic roadmap will be highlighted and evaluated.
On its 15th edition, the annual cultural event transformed from Africa Arts and Crafts exposition (AFAC) to International Arts and Crafts Expo (INAC) and it’s geared towards networking Nigerian crafts to the world via a trade show with 29 countries in attendance and seventeen states representatives.
Professor Bakut, as Director General, Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution, will mount the podium to navigate the topic, drawing from his experience to situate the recalibration of cultural values as vehicle to national development while celebral Chief Executive of NICO, Ado Yahuza sets the discussion agenda for deep unveiling of the topic, its various templates of practical economic, political and social imperatives for advancing national development.
Meanwhile, Dr. Joseph Tyoakula Ande, of Department of Theatre Arts, University of Abuja, will join Ado Yahuza on this plane of interpretative excursion, to make plain issues desirable in Nigeria’s cultural renaissance, including its arts and crafts, festivals to drive national development.
As Nigeria battles several issues around insecurity and eroded national values, experts have posited that that culture remains a viable vehicle to promote national unity and cohesion, particularly as at this difficult and trying times for the nation.
With over 29 foreign countries showcasing their crafts and arts history and economic values in an ambience of full ambassadorial and diplomatic personalities, INAC, under the watch and internationalisation by Otunba Segun Runsewe, is reasserting faith in the brand ‘Nigeria’ despite the plethora of national challenges.
Speaking on the sidelines of the opening ceremony of the expo yesterday, Runsewe affirmed that the culture sector is undoubtedly the game changer in the mobilisation of local and international influencers in the quest to build a peaceful world.
His words, “We have to be consistent, strong and determined in Nigeria to tell our stories, even as we give other nations opportunities to share ideas, trade and understand our cultural value chains. INAC is a vehicle not only to drive sensitization investment in our arts and crafts; it is also a channel to integrate and provide platforms for other countries to share their cultural tourism policies and investment opportunities that could help bring peace and unity to mankind.”
The 3-day expo, which began on Thursday, features leather and interior design, raffia and wood works, apparels and embroidery, skill acquisition sessions for women and youths, decorative pottery, metal design, cultural souvenirs, cuisines beads and handmade bronze, music and culture dance.
