Entertainment/Arts/Culture
Runsewe Tasks Stakeholders to Harness Arts Potential For Cultural Development
Director General (DG) National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Chief Olusegun Runsewe says there cannot not be any meaningful cultural development if stakeholders do not harness the large potentials in the art sector.
Runsewe stated this at a book presentation and exhibition of art works by renowned multi-dimensional artist, Mr Dimas Nwoko, in Abuja, on Friday.
He said the cultural industry was the only secret remaining in Africa; and that tapping into the sector by celebrating heroes of arts, while they were still alive, was an opportunity to promote Nigeria’s indigenous culture.
According to him, contemporary art is the sector that accommodates pure talent as one does not require a PhD to do a good painting.
Speaking at the occasion, the permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Mrs Grace Gekpe, said culture had flooded all aspects of people’s lives, noting that Nwoko was one of the top rated multi dimensional and talented artists.
Gekpe said recognising the outstanding artist through the book presentation and exhibition of his art works was exemplary.
According to her, the legendary artist has in the last six decades, seamlessly executed enduring works in painting and sculpture that arouse admiration and respect across the country.
Gekpe said , “Today is another landmark of Nwoko’s immense contribution to the development of contemporary arts in Nigeria.
“His art works are exciting as one can always see the extra effort he puts into each work to ensure they blend with nature; as well as showcase Africa’s rich culture,’’ she said.
Similarly, a speaker at the event, Mr Simon Ikpakronyi, said Nwoko had been on the art scene in Nigeria like a Colossus for six decades; and he still remained a force to reckon with in the industry.
“In a world where specialisation is the order of the day with people sticking to their calling, he dares to be different,’’ Ikpakronyi said.
He described the artist as an exceptional stage designer, architect and a good painter.
According to him, the presentation marked the first leg of the packaging of an accomplished artist whose creativity had been brought to the fore through his works.
In his remarks, Nwoko thanked the Gallery of Arts for hosting the event and the honour accorded him by those who graced the event.
“The award winning 84-year-old prolific artist urged Nigerians to see Culture as a meeting point for addressing the Nation’s challenges.
“Culture is not about dancing, panting or singing; but is the business of everyone in their various spaces,’’ Nwoko said.
He urged the Minister of Culture and all stakeholders to wake up to their responsibilities of preserving the country’s heritage through the promotion of arts.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the book, entitled: Pre-eminent Artist, Outstanding Architect, is a publication of the National Gallery of Arts; which chronicles Nwoko’s works.
The high point of the event was the opening of images and art works of Nwoko by the DG. (NAN)
‘iShot-It App’, a mobile application to combat the spread of fake news and misleading information, has been launched in the Federal Capital Territory(FCT).
An ICT firm, iShot-It App Integrated unveiled the new innovation at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja.
Mr Johnbull Igwe , Chief Executive officer of the firm, said the App was designed to assist in the fight against fake news and misinformation
He added that the new technology also has functions that rewards users in the business of content creation.
He explained that when used to capture photos and videos the APP authenticates the content with geo-location coordinate, date and time.
According to him, fake news and misinformation are twin problems that have continued to cause reputational damage in the digital space, adding that iShot-It App is a timely and proven solution.
“It supports organic content generators as they can sell the content to media houses or get directly rewarded by the App developer through new features which are being unboarded in coming days.
“At its core, iShot-It is about ownership and trust, as every photo and video you capture through the App is embedded with precise geo-location coordinates, date, and time stamps.
“This creates a digital seal of authenticity that cannot be changed, ensuring your content, whether it’s a breaking news report or a personal blog post, carries the weight of verifiable truth.
With iShot-It, your audience can experience the real narrative, tied to the exact place and time it happened.
“Journalists, bloggers, and everyday citizens can now have unassailable evidence to strengthen their credibility.
“It also enables users to share authentic experiences and connect with others honestly, while business owners can showcase their products and services transparently, building trust with customers”, he said.
In her remarks, a media executive and a partner of iShot-It App Integrated, Blessing Ogwo described the innovation as a tool that bridges credibility gap in digital storytelling.
” iShot-It App is about ownership and trust; it empowers users, journalists, bloggers and everyday citizens go authenticate their stories with unassailable evidence”, she said.
She said the App has features such as likes, comments, shares, direct messaging and others , and allows users to interact with their data secured.(NAN)
Grammy-winning Nigerian music sensation, Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has expressed excitement ahead of her performance at the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup final halftime show.
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is scheduled to hold between June 14 and July 13 in the United States, with the highly anticipated halftime show billed for July 13 at the MetLife Stadium.
According to a statement by Global Citizen, producers of the show, Tems will headline the show alongside Colombian hitmaker, J Balvin and American pop star, Doja, of a performance that will be broadcast live.
In reaction to the historic performance, Tems expressed excitement about the significance of the show.
“We’re going to bring the world together for a beautiful moment — to celebrate football, feel the unity that music brings, and help improve the lives of millions of children through the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund (FGCEF).”
“I can’t wait. See you at the FIFA Club World Cup final!”, she said.
According to the organisers, the performance is part of a broader effort to raise awareness and support for the FGCEF.
The FGCEF is a joint initiative led by FIFA President, Gianni Infantino and Global Citizen co-founder, Hugh Evans.
The fund aims to raise $100 million to expand access to quality education and football for children across the globe. (NAN)
Star-studded Nollywood series “The Party” is set to premiere on Netflix May 30, its producer has said.
The producer of the acclaimed series, Judith Audu, disclosed this in a post on her Instagram page.
The Party is a three-part murder mystery series that tells the story of how everyone became a suspect when a young, successful, newly married man died unexpectedly and dramatically.
The series, directed by Yemi Morafa, features a lineup of A-list Nollywood actors, including Shaffy Bello, Uzor Arukwe, Mide Martins, Kunle Remi, and James Gardiner.
The series showcases brilliant performances by Tope Olowoniyan, Ben Touitou, Ray Adeka, and introduces Eva Ibiam in a standout debut.
The Party, a fully independent production of Ope Ajayi and Captain of Sea Productions, was originally conceived as a feature-length movie.
However, after being acquired by Netflix, it was restructured into a three-part series.
Earlier, Ajayi, in a post on his social media page, said that the Netflix series was one that would keep the audience guessing about the culprit.
In his words; “You’ll never be able to guess who did it.”
He further added: “The performances are perhaps one of my favourite things about the series.
“Everyone brought their A-game!”(NAN)
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