The Chief of Defense Staff, General Leo Irabor has described the Director General, National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe as a true Culture Ambassador of the Country.
The CDS made this remark when he received in audience a delegation comprising the executive members of the Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF) and top management of the National Council for Arts and Culture led by the Director General to the Defense headquarters on a courtesy visit.
The CDS stated that he was elated to receive the delegation in his office adding that the visit provides a platform for them to rob minds and share experiences on ways the Military can collaborate with the NCAC to promote a robust civil – military relationship through Arts and Culture.
General Irabor who said the Armed Forces whose cardinal role is the protection of the nation’s territorial integrity can also achieve it’s mandate using Culture as a veritable tool.
” The defense of the territorial integrity of the nation is the defense of it’s Culture” the CDS added.
Speaking earlier, the Director General, National Council for Arts and Culture Otunba Olusegun Runsewe commended the Chief of Defence Staff for the renewed energy and collaborative efforts to decimate all forms of terrorism and insurgency against the good people of Nigeria.
He explained that the NCAC is saddled with the responsibility of ensuring sustainable peace, national security and social harmony using Culture and other soft diplomatic platforms. According to Runsewe, the NCAC and the Nigeria Armed Force are two sides of the same coin as Culture and Peace are synonymous strategy that the Military and NCAC can partner in the task of propagating peace and enhancing national unity.
The NCAC boss opined that the Military can collaborate with NCAC by utilizing the platforms of the International Arts and Crafts (INAC) Expo as well as the National Festival for Arts and Culture (NAFEST) for reaching out to Nigerians and getting close to the Civil populace by incorporating cultural contents into some of it’s programmes
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Runsewe who doubles as the president of the Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF) also advocated the staging of a golf tournament on one of the six geo-political zones of the country on rotational basis during the Armed Force remembrance day celebrations to bring the military closer to the people and elicit enhanced civil support for military operations.
The Chief of Defence Staff in his response promised full participation of the Armed Forces at the National Festival for Arts and Culture to be hosted by Lagos State in November adding that the Armed Forces will utilize the platform to showcase the rich collections of the military since it’s creation.
General Irabor also promised to incorporate a golf tournament in next year’s Armed Forces remembrance day celebrations.
There were exchange of souvenirs between the Chief of Defense Staff and the Director General, National Council for Arts and Culture during the visit.
The occasion also featured the unveiling of Air Cdr. BD Solomon as the Vice President of Nigerian Golf Federation ( NGF).
