Janefrances Chibuzor

Towards the tail end of yesterday, August 8, Director General of National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe, held talks with President, Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Pretty Okafor at NCAC headquarter, Abuja.

In a warm and friendly atmosphere, during the PMAN courtesy visit, the two leaders had a comprehensive view and expressed their readiness to exploit Nigeria’s song in achieving peaceful co-existence among ethnic groups across states. 

Runsewe, who also is President of the World Crafts Council for African Region, noted that in other parts of the world, music is an important tool to drive home the demands of the people. According to him, the development of such would enable them to get further attention from the government.

Runsewe nevertheless has expressed NCAC’s readiness for a mutually beneficial relationship with PMAN in developing and promoting a strong Nigerian brand through music, while reiterating the need for PMAN to remain focused, thereby urging them in designing a suitable platform that would create unity among musicians.

NCAC boss, who expressed pleasure over the visit, emphasised the association has a big role to play in spreading the message of unity to heal the wounds and rekindle the hopes, yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians as they continually strive for a better tomorrow.

Speaking earlier, Okafor said they were in the Council headquarters to express their appreciation to Runsewe for the fatherly role he played to ensure the return of peace to the association.

Okafor stated that under the new leadership of the association, all musicians in the country have been duly registered and are enjoying royalties from their works through a partnership created with Zenith Bank of Nigeria Plc. 

He also revealed that the association has been able to secure land in the Federal Capital Territory for the building of an Entertainment City and the Musicians Village to cater for the needs of the association.

Also speaking, PMAN, Pioneer Vice President, Sunny Neji pleaded with Runsewe to remember the association when the covid 19 palliative is being shared.

Runsewe, however, promised to look into their demands with a view to various challenges of the association, as he also assured the association of adequate representation in the NCAC programmes coming up later this year.

About the author

Janefrances Chibuzor is a CIAPS Graduate of Media & Communication.