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All Set for Final Funeral Rites for Obaro’s Father

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All is set for the final funeral reception for the late Pa Timothy Ajayi Owoniyi, father of His Royal Majesty, the Obaro of Kabba and Chairman of the Okun Area Traditional Council, Oba (Dr) Solomon Dele Owoniyi

The event holds in Kabba, Kogi State at noon on Saturday, October 8, 2022.

The Royal Court of Kabba which announced this in a statement this morning, said the 25 member Pan Okun Reception Planning Committee headed by the state Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Planning, Asiwaju Asiru Idris has given assurance that all was being done to ensure a world class event.

Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello will be leading dignitaries from across the country to the reception holding at the Olonijola Events Centre Kabba.

Prominent traditional rulers from across and beyond Kogi State are also expected at the reception.

According to the statement, the committee also gave assurance that the relevant agencies of the government had committed to providing adequate security for guests at the event.

It expressed the sincere appreciation of the Owoniyi dynasty to leaders of the community, the friends and associates of the family as well as members of the public who it noted had demonstrated great enthusiasm in the preparations for the event.

The statement said the Palace  was thankful to Chairman Asiru Idris and members of the committee for their untiring efforts and the tremendous work they had done towards delivering an event worthy of its name.

Pa Timothy Ajayi Owoniyi went to be with the Lord in Ile-Ife, Osun State on December 2, 2021 at the age of 90 years.

His earthly remains were laid to rest at a private internment at Egbeda, Kabba on December 16, 2021.
 
 
 
 

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US Govt moves to initiate programmes that will boost Nigeria’s Creative Economy

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The United States government has indicated its readiness to collaborate with the Ministry of Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy to roll out initiatives that will bring about creative success in music and television script writing.

The US Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Lee Satterfield made this known when she paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Art Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa in Abuja on Thursday.
Special Adviser on media and publicity Nneka Ikem Anibeze in a statement quoted Satterfield to have indicated that the US government will use public diplomacy platforms, including people-to-people diplomacy, to revolutionize the growing opportunities in the music, art and literary fields.

“The Education and Cultural Affairs Bureau at the State Department plays a lead role primarily in building relationships and people-to-people diplomacy across a wide variety of sectors, education mostly, but also in cultural heritage.

“So in addition to the robust programs we already do in the culture space, we have announced 3 new initiatives. One is for television production, to bring Nigerian TV production directors to the University of Southern California to work directly with American executive producers and directors.
This she said will help them to create the shows, and to be mentored and use the American network to help bolster that sector.

“Secondly, with the recording academy, we announced a music program where the Recording Academy will find American mentors who are members of the Recording Academy to bring Africans from the continent.
“I think 5 of the participants out of 20 will be Nigerians. And this is to bolster the music industry, not just musicians, but those who want to be in the business. It is exactly what you’re talking about, wanting to be in the business so we can pair them with Americans to talk about best practices and how to go into the field of music.

“We want to really create this ecosystem in the music space with these recording academy members. Secretary Blinken announced that the program will take place in October of this year. So we are really excited”.

Earlier, the Minister cited Intellectual Property securitization on copyright, lack of infrastructure, and the need to industrialize the sector as key grey areas that yearn for collaborations and investment in order to bring value into the country.

“Infrastructure is key. Part of our road map and strategy is to build the Abuja Creative City, which is going to be a one-stop shop for everything creative. “In addition to the creative city, we are willing to work with different governments, organizations, and institutions to see how we can bring value both ways and really monetize the sector. So in a nutshell, we are looking at 3 key pillars.; Cultural expansion, Economic expansion, and job creation.

“The fourth is our robust initiative called Destination 2030 which we hope to use to reposition Nigeria on the global stage. We really want to get input from you and see how you can help us to invest in this industry, to help Nigeria and these generations through job creation.
“So, really, the door is open for business, for discussions, for collaborations, areas of alignment, and to continue the conversation on how we can also contribute our quota and our content to America.”

In attendance also was Peter Burba First Secretary, US Embassy, Catherine Collins, Director of Film, TV and Digital Media Programs US Department of State, Ali Nuhu, Managing Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation and Obi Asika, Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture.

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Musawa seeks Soyinka’s support on Preservation Strategies For Nigeria’s Literary Art

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The creative economy will tap into the wealth of experience of Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, a literary icon to promote the rich cultural heritage of the nation, the Minister of Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy Hannatu Musa Musawa has indicated.
The Minister spoke when she paid a courtesy visit to the renowned playwright at the weekend at New York University Abu Dhabi where heis a visiting Professor.

A statement by her special adviser on media and publicity, Nneka Nkem Anibeze indicated that Musawa visited to seek the support of the Nobel Laureate, in providing strategies for the promotion and preservation of literary art in the country.
“It is an honor to share my vision for the development of the arts, culture, and creative economy  with the Nobel Laureate. The purpose of this visit is to invite you to share your invaluable experience with us, including insights, guidance, and advice on how to add to the development of literary arts in the country. Said the minister to Professor Soyinka:

“This is the first time that we are having a ministry created specifically for this sector which is the Ministry of Arts, culture and Creative Economy. 

“Nigeria has a huge culture content including music,  films,  fashion and literary arts of which our priorities include the preservation of literary works. This, we intend carrying out by formulating policies that will ward off piracy and plagiarism.

“Nigeria boasts of great writers like Professor Wole Soyinka, the late Prof. Chinua Achebe, Chimamanda Adichie, Prof Okey Ndibe and many others. We will be happy to see Prof Soyinka lead the way  on these strategies. We look unto your antecedents for Initiatives to encourage the younger generation to embrace and celebrate their cultural identity”.

In his response, Prof. Soyinka expressed delight in the visit and described his interest in culture and literary arts, generally, as a comparative one. He called for a conscious effort at preserving the culture and tradition of the Nigerian people.

“Culture is interrelated and inter-connected with different other cultures, so Culture is universal.

“Nigerians are faced with diverse issues due to the neglect of heritages and monuments. We need to promote indigenous languages and cultures to preserve morals and values across the country.

“The performing artist is at a disadvantage, as his resources are limited. All an actor can do is join forces. Nigeria boasts of writers, musicians, painters, sculptors, and artists who believe in opening up certain horizons for human striving. I am an artist and a producer, a creative person, and I like to go into galleries, to listen to music and to read books.

“The arts are the material expression of the people’s essence, of their spirituality, and  of their dignity. Return the spirituality to Africa by returning all the looted works,” Prof Soyinka said.

Minister Hannatu Musawa also  discussed the initiatives to encourage the younger generation to embrace and celebrate their cultural identity, Artistic and Creative Development, opportunities for collaboration and innovation in the creative economy, Cultural Diplomacy and utilizing  arts and culture as a tool for international diplomacy and promoting the nation’s cultural diversity on the global stage.
  
The Minister eagerly anticipates the opportunity to engage in a meaningful collaboration with Professor Soyinka and looks forward to the potential collaboration for the advancement of arts, culture, and the creative economy.

Prof Soyinka was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986.

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Nigeria will partner Qatar in Arts, cultural exchange for better opportunities – Musawa

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***As Tinubu, Musawa Visit Historic Qatar National Museum

Nigeria’s partnership with Qatar in areas of art and cultural exchange will create better opportunities for Nigerians in the future, Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy Hannatu Musa Musawa has expressed the optimism.
Special Adviser to the minister on Media and publicity Nneka Ikem Anibeze quoted the Musawa to have made spoken in Doha during a State visit to Qatar along with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and some other cabinet members on Monday.

According to the minister, the visit which included a tour of the spectacular National Museum of Qatar highlighted the importance of culture and heritage in nation building which also underscores Nigeria’s commitment to revitalising the country’s museums and monuments.

“We had multiple productive partnership discussions on the sidelines of the visit and we are excited about the opportunities that exist for collaboration across multiple segments. Partnerships remain a cornerstone of our roadmap.

“Qatar is absolutely delectable and almost like a dream resort to come to. There is a lot of interface in terms of what Nigeria wants to do. This is a new government with a huge burden on its shoulder to do something different, to bring innovation and take Nigeria into the future.

“It is with the collaborations and the partnerships with countries like Qatar, that we can be able to do that.
I think this is huge for both countries in terms of many sectors, and I think Nigeria and Qatar can have very meaningful partnerships.

“When it comes to the Islamic art and the way they have been able to cultivate that, there is a huge community in Nigeria that also wants to cultivate these Islamic arts.

“I think the people of Nigeria and Qatar just want to do better for the next generation. What I saw in Qatar is a government that is looking at the future and the next generation and this is exactly what the current Nigerian government is looking at”, Musawa said.

The President’s entourage was taken on a tour of various Qatari monuments and the National Museum of Qatar by its Director, Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Hamad Al Thani.

Minister Musawa will later on Monday hold talks with Dr. Al-Kawari, the President of the Qatar National Library and former Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage of Qatar from 2008 to 2016.

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