The National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) has reaffirmed its dedication to providing Nigerians with the finest cultural market on the African continent.
During a media briefing in Abuja, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, the Director General of NCAC, announced that the cultural market is ready to launch with top-notch cultural amenities. These will include contemporary stores for the sale of various artworks, a pharmacy, a photo studio, a business center, traditional restaurants serving local cuisine, an ATM gallery, centers for traditional hair weaving, well-maintained public restrooms, robust security infrastructure, secure parking facilities, a police station, and an information/complaints desk.
During a tour with journalists around the cultural market in Abuja, the President of the World Craft Council, African Region, who also serves as the NCAC boss, announced that the Council would soon unveil the newly enhanced cultural market to the public in a matter of weeks.
Runsewe asserts that the cultural market has been constructed with state-of-the-art cultural amenities, which are capable of rivaling those of other culturally advanced nations around the globe.
He restated that, after nine months of operation, this modern cultural market will expand into other business areas, including a unique African nights-out cultural market, a birthday shopping style, and quarterly media discussions on managing, maintaining, and improving the market’s standards. The market will also adopt modern innovations as practiced worldwide, if necessary.
According to the Director, the reopening of this state-of-the-art cultural market brings him great joy because it will generate more than 500 jobs for numerous unemployed youths and artists, both directly and indirectly, once it becomes fully operational.
Runsewe disclosed his intention to implement the skills acquisition initiative and integrate the waste-to-wealth program that his Council has been promoting in all states of the country, particularly during the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) for several years.
He, however, encouraged Nigerians, particularly art enthusiasts and members of the diplomatic community, to make the most of the opportunities available at the cultural market. He emphasized that the cultural market has the potential to generate significant foreign exchange, which could enhance the Nigerian economy.
