Newly appointed Director General, National Council for Arts and Culture, NCAC, and former DG, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, NTDC, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe received a warm reception from staff of NTDC as he officially resumes his duty at the agency’s office in Abuja on Monday.
According to nigerianfranknewsng.com, the NTDC staff who had come to welcome Runsewe said the welcome was to thank the former NTDC boss for the wonderful work he did while in NTDC and to say they are pleased with his appointment in another agency.
This came also as the NCAC staff who were also at hand to receive him were full of praises on his appointment which they said is a good development for the parastatal.
The staff of NCAC were initially apprehensive about the presence of NTDC staff who they initially thought have come to take over their jobs.
The NCAC staff were however pleased with the appointment of Runsewe who they believed will turn things around for the agency as he did while in NTDC.
But Runsewe in his charismatic manner thanked the staff of NTDC for their show of support and solidarity, promising to do his best to reposition NCAC on the path of sustainable growth the way he did in NTDC.
In his address to the staff, Runsewe said the Council, under his leadership, will take its place as the central bank of culture in Nigeria.
According to dailytrust.com.ng, he said that tourism cannot thrive in Nigeria without a viable cultural base.
Lamenting that the sector has been relegated for too long in spite of its ability to be a major revenue generator with ample opportunities for job creation, Runsewe who was received by management staff of the Council, led by the most senior director and the head of Department of Performing Arts, Mr. Dotun Osunsanya, implored them and other staff to be supportive towards changing the status quo at the organisation.
The new helmsman who said he was happy to be back in familiar terrain, said culture must take its place of pride.
He said, “The strength of Nigeria is its culture and our values must come back to us. Culture would be the next revenue generation base.”
Runsewe assured the staff of equal commitment to the culture sector as he did while he was NTDC boss.
According to atqnews.com the federal government had earlier approved appointed Runsewe and others into key positions of some government agencies and parastatals.
The appointments included: the new chairman of the board of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) former newspaper editor and ex-presidential spokesman, Chief Duro Onabule.
Other executive directors of NTA include: Dr Steve Egbo, Administration and Training; Abdul Hamid Salihu Dembos, Marketing; Mohammed Labbo, News; Fatima M. Barda, Finance; Stephen Okoanachi, Engineering; and Wole Coker, Programmes.
At the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Aliyu Hayatu is new chairman, while Buhari Auwalu and Yinka Amosun, are Zonal Directors, Kaduna and Lagos, respectively.
Under the Ministry of Information and Culture, the following agencies have new appointees: Nigerian Film Corporation, Dr Chika Maduekwe, General Manager; National Theatre and National Troupe of Nigeria, Comrade Tar Ukoh, Artistic Director; National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, Director-General; Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, Folorunsho Coker, Director-General.
