The stage has been set again for yet another cultural watershed with the National Council for Arts and Culture playing host to no less than 36 ambassadors, high commissioners and representatives of countries drawn from around the world to a pre-International Arts and Crafts Expo dinner in Abuja.

•Otunba Segun Runsewe D-G, NCAC, presenting souvenirs to Wendell De Landro, Ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago to Nigeria

The assemblage of countries like South Africa, Iran, Cameroun, Spain, China, Sudan, Venezuela, USA and others from every continent in the world at the pre-INAC dinner, was a deliberate attempt by NCAC to rewrite the cultural narratives of Nigeria as it prepares for a groundbreaking 2019 Expo.

The NCAC pre-INAC dinner held at the Sheraton Hotels has become an annual prelude to kick-starting the event in earnest, making it a most memorable one, especially for foreign nationals.

During the dinner, the Director-General of NCAC, Otunba Segun Runsewe, giving his welcome address, thanked the various ambassadors and high commissioners for gracing the occasion. He recalled that it was an improvement from the 22 countries that participated in the 2018 edition of the event.

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Runsewe said the essence of the dinner is to provide a platform for diplomats to interact and unwind in an informal atmosphere in a bid to further cement the cordial relationship already existing between them and the host country, Nigeria.

According to Runsewe, the 3rd edition of INAC will dedicate an entire day to any country interested in entertaining the envoys, noting that last year witnessed phenomenal entertainment from countries like China, India and Bangladesh.

After dinner, Otunba Runsewe presented souvenirs to the envoys, disclosing that plans are underway to ensure this year’s Cultural Diplomacy Day for Peace slated for November 24th is marked to establish a cultural link amongst nations with the aim of ensuring a common network of cultural identities.

The dinner featured delicious Nigerian cuisine, sensational cultural presentations, group photos, exhibition of artistic masterpieces by contemporary Nigerian artists, a display of vintage bronze casts and other historic artefacts, courtesy of NCAC.

VANGUARD