Otunba Segun Runsewe, (OON),Director-General of National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), under the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, is a man who has brought dignity to Nigeria and vibrancy to the tourism sector .As they say, creative thinker can’t be easily pigeonholed, Otunba Runsewe, famously known as ‘Mr. Tourism’ and the ‘Face of Nigerian Culture’ is one of these and a strict constructionist. He exhibits an ability to rise above conventional thinking and prejudices and epitomizes what constitutes the right stuff on the public service front. One of the primary measures of greatness on the public service is the impact its players’ activities have on the society at large. And Runsewe’s activities have been having a big impact on the Nigerian public.
On the closing week of April 2021, President Muhammadu Buhari re-appointed Otunba Runsewe, for another term of four years after an eventful first tenure that attracted local and international recognitions to Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage. Runsewe, had been appointed four years earlier in the month of April 2017, and his re-appointment further brightened the future of the NCAC and the creative industry in Nigeria.
At that time of his re-appointment time, many touted his “empathy” and potential for blazing a new trail as a man who understands how to inspire innovation. Some others said that the re-appointment was an eloquent testimony to his meritorious service rendered to preserve and promote Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage, right from his days as D-G of NTDC, down to his first tenure in office as NCAC D-G which began in May 2017.
Otunba Runsewe brought dignity to the sector while maintaining a revered position as a consistent phenomenon in Nigeria’s culture and tourism sectors, having served in different capacities in the last three decades. He has brought dignity to the sector while maintaining a revered position as a consistent phenomenon in Nigeria’s culture and tourism sectors, having served in different capacities in the last three decades. Undoubtedly, his sterling performance during his first tenure as D-G had a huge impact on the Council owing to his positive attitude towards collaboration with stakeholders in the arts and culture industry. His recognition of the vital role of the media and diverse associations under the culture ministry, retreats with Zonal Directors of the Council, and subsequent collaborations with all stakeholders, all went into the tapestry of his success, especially in job creation through arts, crafts culture, skill acquisition; which as a whole, translate to income generation to Nigeria’s economy.
The annual International Arts and Crafts Expo (INAC) which holds in Abuja has become art, crafts and culture exhibition ground for many countries across the world that queue up to participate in the yearly event. Apart from job creation, INAC has also become an effective tool for networking, marketing, and promotion of arts, crafts, and cultural products of Nigeria and many other countries.
By dint of hard work, Otunba Runsewe brought rare innovations to the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST), rebranding the festival and making it a prime national cultural event state governors vigorously bid to host. Each edition of the festival almost always witnesses youth participants engaged in skills acquisition, waste-to-wealth programs, and free medical services with the distribution of hundreds of eyeglasses.
The 2021 edition was hosted by Ekiti state. And it was glorious. Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, was set agog by NAFEST. Business activities suddenly skyrocketed as a result of the huge influx of visitors from other states of Nigeria. Pounded yam, the staple item in the state’s menu, sold like hotcakes. Nightlife in the state capital also came alive. Visitors could be seen gathering and drinking, both inside and outside the pavilion. Transporters, especially the commercial motorcyclists popularly called Okada, made brisk businesses, probably thanking God for bringing NAFEST to Ekiti State. All the hotels in Ado-Ekiti and the environs also ran out of rooms. Visitors had to pair themselves and share rooms because the hotels had no more rooms to offer. From the look of some hotels, it was obvious that some rooms which were not in use due to lack of patronage were hurriedly fixed and offered to visitors. Although such rooms were not in the best of conditions, visitors had no choice but to make do with them in the face of the acute shortage.
Otunba Runsewe said he was very excited that the people of Ekiti State have been empowered through NAFEST. “All the hotels in Ado-Ekiti are fully booked. People have had to be sharing rooms. It may interest you to know that the same thing happened in Canada – they had an event, but they didn’t have enough rooms. They had to build more hotels. So, we are now begging Ekiti people and saying to them: “Before we come back (for another NAFEST), please build more hotels.”
Indeed, NAFEST has been organized to thrill everybody again and again since Runsewe came on board. Recall that the network of NAFEST used to be direct with the directors of culture in the state. Runsewe looked at the history behind the festival and objected to that idea when he came, saying, it was wrong to be doing a program of national interest with just the culture chief executives and directors. He was right, for really the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) started in 1970, after the Civil War. The idea was what could be used to unite the country back and those wise people saw culture as the major product and it was agreed that NAFEST should kick-start the process.
In an interview, Runsewe disclosed that the festival, in those days, used to look like an inter-house sport. He promised that would not happen under his leadership. He has brought some changes that could be seen in the festival. And the nation felt this impact in the last years of the NAFEST event in Ekiti state. It was higher than the editions hosted in Kaduna and Rivers States. Now state governors are beginning to key into this program.
He goes down memory lane of how he was able to rejuvenate the festival some years back.
“Now, for a very long time, the directors had been the engine room of the festival, non-negotiable. But the commissioners were the brainboxes. Neither of these could work without the other and I took a step further, and I said ‘we must go to plead with the governors, because we don’t need to leave everything with the directors, though, a lot of them have good intentions, the person who would give it all the feasibility and support is the governor. So, I took it upon myself to see Governor Nasiru Ahmad el-Rufai of Kaduna State, and he gave me his words that Kaduna was prepared. Anybody who is close to el-Rufai knows he’s a man of his word and really before we got to Kaduna, he’d instructed the secretary to the government of Kaduna who, held a series of meetings with me, and in fact, I also had meetings with the Chief of Staff. Before, it was not the case. It used to be the NCAC and the directors. In the economy of today that we’re trying to improve, we need to tell the drivers in the states the benefits that this sector would bring, and then, they will see the importance. So, el-Rufai gave the approval and said we’re hosting. I’d like to use this opportunity to commend the Emir of Zazzau, who came out with one of the best Durbar outings since the 1940s. People really came out, even foreigners. We had a fantastic outing in Kaduna, and this was because the governor was committed and gave directives.”
To strengthen international partnerships, Runsewe ensured that the Council participated in foreign mission activities such as the first Asian film festival in Abuja and the French Institute animated films festival. While his first tenure also saw some NCAC staff enjoying training, workshop, and seminar in China, the Council also enjoyed the partnership and cultural exchange programs with notable foreign missions like India, Iran, South Korea, Ghana, Russia etc.
Runsewe’s second time in office as the D-G of NCAC is an indication of President Buhari’s belief that he will do more to put Nigeria in the global limelight. Some commentators believe he has an important role to play in ensuring that our buried histories and neglected aspects of our cultures are dug up and documented while those on the brink of extinction, such as Nigerian indigenous languages are revived through constant usage in both spoken and written communications.
That can be incorporated into the existing festivals. Also, materials and books written in indigenous languages can be archived in a standard library and stored at the NCAC offices. Even achievements and programs of the Council can be documented in books and pamphlets and stored for reference purposes.
With Otunba Runsewe’s pedigree for success, innovative skills, and capacity to turn dead agencies into functional and profitable entities, he has proved himself as somebody who can handle higher responsibilities in a country that has historically had the misfortune of having bad leaders manage its affairs. This trait has won him accolades across the globe.
In September last year, Otunba Segun Runsewe bagged China Man of the Year award. The Chinese community, the Consulate and WUSHU Development Association of Nigeria, bestowed Otunba Segun Runsewe, DG of National Council for Arts and Culture, NCAC, as the China Culture Man of the Year.
At an impressive ceremony to mark the 2021 mid autumn festival and Chinese national day in Lagos, on Saturday, the Chinese community stated that Otunba Segun Runsewe has worked tirelessly to build a strong cultural tourism relationship between Nigeria and China.
They added that he had, in various ways, convinced the world that Nigeria culture in its diversity has capacity to foster unity and peace among the people of both countries nay the world.
Dr. Matthew Nwaekwe, Coordinator Nigeria/China Business Council, made the presentation at Oriental Hotel, Victoria island, Lagos.
He explained that the Chinese Consulate and the Chinese community in Nigeria were elated at the pace and passion Otunba Runsewe brought to bear on his assignment as Nigeria culture chief, and the conviction to sustain cultural relationship between China and Nigeria.
Creative industries play an important role in the cultural and economic life of many people, embodying tradition and heritage. Specially, the film industry amalgamates an artistic, educational, social, and sometimes even political content, turning into a national identity-bearing agent. Its work combines different contributions and talents, which make it highly complex, a sui generis artisan-artistic-industrial work protected by copyright.
Runsewe is looking at this as Nigeria is rich in tradition and folklore; its creators have the opportunity to create culturally-distinct works for which there is great demand in this increasingly uniform world. The country is known for being at the heart of African music, and for possessing a well developed music industry which has achieved international acclaim. It has a vibrant book publishing industry, with more publishing houses than any other African country and an influential literature, including a Nobel Prize laureate.
The social and cultural impacts of Runsewe’s impact as Director-General of National Council for Arts and Culture , will echo for a long time.
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