Published By Cliffsimeon Akalonu
To make this year’s International Arts and Crafts (INAC) Expo bigger and more culture friendly, Plans are in top gear to achieving history.
This was revealed during a courtesy visit by the Turkey Ambassador, His Excellency, Hidayet Bayraktar; to the Director General, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Segun Runsewe in his office recently.
Recieving them in audience, the Director General, Otunba Segun Runsewe expressed delight in the visit of the envoy saying that the diplomatic relationship between Nigeria and the Republic of Turkey dates back to 1962 and has since grown with much strength and friendliness.
Otunba Runsewe in a preamble to this year’s INAC Expo, said the Diplomatic community will be hosted by the Council to a Pre-INAC Dinner where the diplomatic community will unwind and share ideas on their experience and expectation leading to the INAC Expo in August this year.
Runsewe promised to deepen the participation of the Republic of Turkey by providing a media platform where the country will showcase its cultural potentials.
Responding, the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey thanked the Director General of NCAC, for opening his doors to receive them which according to him is a huge sign of hospitality.
The Ambassador said “Nigeria and the Republic of Turkey have deep cultural heritage which he hoped could be harnessed”.
He added that his embassy has facilities for exhibitions and hopes to partner with NCAC to put them into proper use.
Ambassador Hidayet Bayraktar also revealed that the Turkish Embassy has concluded arrangements with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) to be featured in a culture related programme on Saturday to showcase their country’s tea and coffee health benefits.
The envoy revealed that a number of Nigerian students who graduated from schools in Turkey have formed an alumni in Nigeria adding that the alumna will be celebrated by the embassy in April this year.
According to the Ambassador, two universities will be visiting Nigeria to conduct screening exercise for intending Nigerians with a view to offering them scholarships. Exchanging gifts with the NCAC boss, the Ambasador opined that the Council should create a platform where there would be a strong collaboration between Nollywood and the Turkish Embassy to showcase both country’s rich cultural heritage through films.
