19/06/2025
An exposition into the affairs of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Between 2011 -2023. (NCAC)
I am a Criminologist, Lawyer, a student of Man, Activism, State and War, an Afrocentric-preneur and a patriot of Afrocentrism for the preservation of cultural identities and origin through African Art.
I have been a registered contractor, lessee and consultant with the (NCAC) from 2011 till date. My message reflects a deep and personal frustration with systemic endemic corruption and decay, particularly within Nigeria’s federal parastatals, and specifically the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC). What I outline here is specifically about a Mr. Segun Runsewe Otunba and his hence Men, Mr Suileman Yahya. This qualitative analysis is first hand experience, exposes a troubling picture of misuse of public office, outright receipt of bribery, conversion of Artifacts belonging to individuals, tribal bigotry, nepotistic economic sabotage, cultural decay, Institutional betrayal, Arson and destruction of Nigerian Art
Iroko Craft is about the promotion of African Art, Living Art and Architectural Art, hence my involvement in the Arts and Craft Village FCT Abuja, The Social Development Secretariat, FCTA and the NCAC. www.irokocraft.com
I, like many Nigerians and observers, have long decried how parastatals often serve more as vehicles for patronage of embezzlement than for public service. The recycling of old contracts, ghost projects, and bloated administrative workforces are chronic endemic problems in this sector.
Institutions that are meant to serve as promoters for the preservation of the Nigerian Art, Craft and Cultural heritage, have failed woefully to preserve, innovate or promote tourism through Art and has made little or no significant benefit within its immediate community or society as a whole. www.ncac.gov.ng Rather, It would appear that the preservation of Nigerian Art has collapsed. The NCAC after illegally shutting down the Arts and Craft Village in Dec 2017 and reopening it after 7yrs made no significant impact or redevelopment of the Arts and Craft Village premises. It appears that the only milestone achieved was the sharing and reallocation of existing shops to cronies.
The closure and destruction of the Arts and Craft Village, once a cultural jewel in Abuja is not just a cultural loss but an economic and symbolic sabotage. Upon Mr Segun Otunba Runsewe taking office in 2017, he installed a state of the Art CCTV cameras at strategic locations within the Art and Craft Village and within months, just 4 days before the fire that gutted the Arts and Craft Village ie suspected sponsored Arson, these cameras were visibly been seen in public beening dismantled. Shutting down 170 Art based businesses over six years with no restitution or transparency in reallocation undermines the very mission the NCAC is meant to serve.
The Arts and Craft Village was built in commemoration of the 17th commonwealth heads of state government meeting (CHOGM) under the distinguished headship of Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth ll of England 5th - 8th December 2003. Abuja - Nigeria. This former No.1 Abuja’s Tourist site was criminally destroyed by Mr Segun Otunba Runsewe for his own personal agenda.
The Allegations against Mr. Segun Runsewe Otunba & Mr. Suleiman Yahyah, is a firsthand experience of serious impunity in the abuse of Federal Government Office, land grabbing, bribery, and the deliberate stifling of a thriving cultural economy. These are not just administrative failings but the actioning of career criminality, nepotistic bigotry posing as Government officials.
The Current DG, Barr. Obi Asika, acknowledged my extensive evidence and apologized on behalf of his predecessor, that gesture alone meant a lot to me and appreciated, however it does not translate into restorative action or institutional reform which may be beyond his powers. Words are a starting point, but accountability and restitution are the benchmarks of justice.
The Minister of the FCTA should pay attention to this site with Mr. Project, and restore the Arts and Craft Village to the essence of the CHOGM Village, which was commissioned by the late HRM Queen Elizabeth in 2003, unfortunately, International attention of the Nigerian Arts and Craft sector has gone underground and is often linked to foreign embassies, who play diplomatic down playing by looking the other way. The Ambassadors Fund for Cultural preservation (AFCB) It is both ironic and somewhat embarrassing that foreign embassies in Nigeria often serve as key venues for showcasing Nigerian Art & Craft. The ideal should be the reverse, Why? because Government agencies that are meant to showcase Nigerian Art is moribund dead.
The NAFFEST and AFAC so called festival held by the NCAC is a repetition of the same processes every other year. It is an event of praise singing of government agencies as the main event. It is simply the recycling and showcasing of outdated old primitive stock from the NCAC store and the calling of the usual collaborators for a show-cased exhibition.
The National Assembly, The Senate, The NPF, EFCC, ICPC, Public complaints commission, are all aware of these events, series of petitions were submitted but received little or no attention, be it as it may be, the NCAC is not financially capable of developing this site. This also means that they have little or no interest in investigating corruption at the NCAC. More so, I will not waste my time and resources taking a FG parastatal to a Nigerian court. The NCAC through the same mischievous land grabbing tactics by Mr. Segun Otunba got a permanent building site at Gudu, a 8 storey building formerly seized by the EFCC, only 3 floors are in use as offices, as such it cannot call the CHOGM Arts and Craft Village its permanent site. The National Theatre Igamu Lagos is again managed by the NCAC. This national edifice is extremely run down and nothing to write home About.
The Nigerian Art, Craft and cultural heritage and its potential economic future is sadly treated in a primitive manner. It is tragic that patriotism is often punished in a system like this. Irrespectively, I will continue to speak up even if the odds seem insurmountable.
Apparently, These well thought out crimes and injustices are committed to the Glory of God and you are expected to be quiet. 🤫 in conclusion, the NCAC serves no real use.
* Upon Mr Segun Otunba Runsewe assuming DG of the NCAC in April 2017, he installed a state of the Art CCTV cameras at strategic locations within the Art and Craft Village and within months, just 5 days before the fire that gutted the Arts and Craft Village ie suspected sponsored Arson, these CCTV cameras were dismantled .
