The Director General of National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) Otunba Segun Runsewe has reiterated the need for the country to use arts and culture as economic tools to empower the people.  Runsewe said this during his visit to Nike Arts Gallery Abuja with states culture and tourism commissioners and other delegates to the First National Stakeholders Review Conference on NAFEST .  He said states replicating culture and arts galleries like what Chief (Mrs.) Nike Okundaye has done with the Nike Arts Gallery with create help the economy and empower youths.

Runsewe said Nike Art Gallery was a unique brand that has done so much for Nigeria. His words: “Nike Art Gallery has been able to put up this place that speaks volumes for this great country and I feel since all the states are here, it is just proper for them to see what they can replicate for their states. It may not be as big as this, but at the end of the day, they have something to show in their states.  If you tell theoretically, they may not understand, that is why I brought them here to come and see.

“I believe a lot of them will be able to tell their governors what they have seen, and then Mama Nike will able to help them if they need some level of expertise to put it up. I went to China, on a street, I saw over 20 galleries. I was marveled.  You can’t get tired. That is why I said we need to start developing Nigeria from the strength of content not just speaking English.”

Runsewe also explained how the culture edifices like gallery can economic help empower Nigerians: “I discovered during my research that this gallery has over 50 staff. They caterers, they have dancers, just like we see in Kenya. So, what I am interested in is economic aspect of it-employment, reduce crime and make Nigeria look better before the eyes of the world.”