*Hails Runsewe for repositioning cultural sector

Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lt. General Christopher Musa has commended the efforts made by the Director General, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Segun Runsewe for what he described as ‘constantly reawakening the consciousness of Nigerians on the need to sustain the country’s rich cultural heritage.’

The CDS made this remark when he received a delegation comprising the executive committee members of the Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF) and top management of the NCAC led by Otunba Runsewe to the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on a courtesy visit.

According to the CDS, Otunba Runsewe is contributing meaningfully to the socio-political and economic development of the nation, just as he lauded the NCAC under his leadership, adding that Runsewe’s ‘passion, drive, records and achievements of the NCAC in the sector was evidently unrivalled.’

The CDS stated that he was elated to receive the delegation in his office adding that the visit provides a platform to rub minds and share experiences on ways the Nigerian military can collaborate with the NCAC to promote a robust civil – military relationship through arts and culture.

General Musa who said the Armed Forces whose cardinal role is the protection of the nation’s territorial integrity can also achieve its mandate using culture as a veritable tool.

”The defense of the territorial integrity of the nation is the defense of its culture” the CDS added.

Speaking earlier, the Director General of NCAC Runsewe commended the CDS for the remarkable gallantry of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in recent months and the efforts aimed at routing Boko Haram insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and all forms of crimes and criminality in Nigeria.

Otunba Runsewe ‘maintained that the activities of criminal elements in our society have been greatly curtailed, neutralized and disseminated in recent times, leading to the relative restoration of peace, law and order in Nigeria.’

He further drew the attention of the Chief of Defence Staff to the close relationship between culture, peace and national unity, and the potency of culture for engendering sustainable peace and social harmony.

He informed the CDS that the NCAC has been complementing the efforts of the Armed Forces of Nigeria ‘in the task of restoring peace in our dear nation, using a variety of soft approaches, including the hosting of cultural festivals, skills acquisition programmes, civil inter-face, sporting activities particularly golf and football,’ adding further that the military has been participating in some of the activities of the NCAC which it avails to the military.

Runsewe recalled that that in 2022, the Nigerian Armed Forces staged a colourful military parade and exhibition in Lagos during the 35th edition of the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) and in the same vein, the Office of the Chief of Defence staff collaborated with the Nigeria Golf Federal (NGF) under his leadership as the President, to host the first Chief of Defence Staff Golf Tournament to mark the 2022 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day.

Runsewe who doubles as the President of World Crafts Council for African Region also used the occasion to solicit for a stronger civil military relationship where the civil society will always see the military as friends and not foes.

He restated that the visit was to brief the CDS on activities of the NCAC and NGF and to benefit from his wealth of knowledge and experience on how the two organizations can fine-tune and perfect non-military strategies in the struggle towards building a Nigeria free of insurgency and other violent crimes.

Highlight of the event was the exchange of gifts and souvenirs between the CDS and the visiting delegation.