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Group takes Ohaneze Ndigbo to the cleaners for placing bounty on illustrious son

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A group operating under the aegis of World Igbo Union, has taken the Ohaneze Ndigbo to the cleaners over what it described as a sacrilege the tagging of one of the illustrious son Simon Ekpa as ‘persona non grata’ to Igbo land.

The apex Igbo Organization in the world in a statement on Tuesday by its leader Mazi Ogechukwu Nkere which was made available to newsmen in Abuja, said such call was not only sacrilegious, but also an abomination and frivolous in the face of hundreds of Southeasterners being murdered by marauding Fulani terrorists and Boko Haram in Nigeria without any measurable reaction by Ohaneze Ndigbo to stop the killings.

The statement reads: “The attention of the apex Igbo Organization in the world – The IWorld Igbo Union has been drawn to a sacrilegious publication credited to a moribund organization in the name of Ohaneze Ndigbo seeking a bounty on the head of one of their illustrious sons, Mazi Simon Ekpa in a publication on This Day Newspaper of 1/23/2023.”

He indicated that the Ohaneze has not reacted in strong or measurable terms or issued any active statement to condemn the killings by the terrorists in Southeast Nigeria.

The group which comprises of over 50,000 members of Igbo descent across the world declared the ohaneze ndigbo as a dead and wasted organization that has remained irrelevant in the lives of the average Igbo person in Nigeria.

The group rules out Ohaneze Ndigbo as inconsequential and lacking capacity to decide for over 70 million Southeasterners and Biafrans that are cut across the Southeast Nigeria begging daily to live from the horrors of terrorist invaders imported into Nigeria by the current Nigeria leadership aided by Ohaneze.

The statement declared the group’s total and unwavering support for their illustrious son in the person of Mazi Simon Ekpa who has been exposing the ills and havoc that Fulani terrorists have been wreaking in all parts of Nigeria including the killing of Christians, burning of homes and markets and more recently, the killing of the Catholic priest father Achi in Kaduna State Nigeria.; this killing has been condemned by the United States government and the Vatican.

They said: “One of the major position and factors that will reduce terrorism in Nigeria and in extension the western world would be an immediate call for an independent Referendum by the United Nations in Nigeria.”

According to them, the dangerous diversities in Nigeria in areas of tribe, religion, ethnicity, language and culture, coupled with the corrupt leadership and their destructive policies has created lots of insecurity and deaths in the Country.

“The inability of the government to obey court orders especially in the case of the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu (the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra) of whom Mazi Simon Ekpa is an ardent follower despite the United Nations call for his immediate release and compensation.

It will be recalled that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu whose disciple is Mazi Simon Ekpa has been discharged and acquitted by almost 3 independent courts in Nigeria and also by the United Nations committee on extraordinary rendition.

“Despite all these calls, the Nigeria government has refused to release him, and the moribund Ohaneze Ndigbo has been an accomplice in this total disregard for the rule of law. The world currently awaits United Nations action on the expiration of their order to the Nigeria government to release Nnamdi Kanu.

The World Igbo Union leader used the medium to call the attention of the world leaders, INTERPOL, and leaders of thought and inform them that the Ohaneze Ndigbo group has been rejected by majority of Igbo citizens because of their role and silence on the killings and destruction of properties and means of livelihood of Igbo citizens in Southeast Nigeria.

“The moribund Ohaneze Ndigbo has committed sacrilege in Igboland by placing a $50,000 bounty on the head of an innocent and illustrious son of Igboland whose only crime was calling for the freedom of his people and their self-protection from Fulani terrorists that have invaded Southeast Nigeria.

“These terrorists has wreaked havoc in Ehamufu Enugu state where over 200 innocent men, women and children were massacred in their own land without protection from either the state or federal government, In fact a Sahara newspaper report on December 24th, 2022 enumerated how the Nigeria military masterminded the Ehamufu killings of these innocent citizens.

“The Nigeria government has daily rehabilitated and reintegrated known terrorists into the country’s security forces and use them to kill, maim and burn down innocent peoples homes and businesses especially those that condemn this practice and seek for their freedom from Nigeria.

“The World Igbo Union hereby calls on the international body, INTERPOL and Nigerians to disregard the sacrilegious call by the moribund Ohaneze Ndigbo and its Secretary Okechukwu Isiguzoro.

“The group declared its unflinching support for its erudite scholar and illustrious son Mazi Simon Ekpa whose expositions have created lots of awareness to citizens from the Southeast Nigeria on ways to mitigate and protect themselves against Fulani terrorist invaders.

It described Ohaneze Ndigbo as a stooge of the Fulani terrorist government in Nigeria whose actions have led the United States embassy to order families of embassy employees to depart Nigeria due to heightened risk of terrorism in October 2022.
Read Also: Magu grilled at banquet hall of Presidential villa as journalists are barred from gaining entrance

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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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