Edited by Frank Meke
** The local organizing committee for the 35th edition of the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NCAC) will be inaugurated tomorrow by the DG NCAC, Otunba Segun Runsewe. The composition of the committee will be wide and broad, reflective of the desire of NCAC and the Lagos state government to make the event a top notch one and to which Lagos governor, Babajide sanwo-0lu has announced to pull all strings to set a new record in cultural event organisation in Nigeria.
** Nigerians may pay hard if they fail to heed the fearful resurgence of COVID 19 as announced by the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC), which says more Nigerians are suffering from the impact of the pandemic.
** Top industry players besieged highbrow Lekki,lagos last Saturday for the wedding of the daughter of Nigeria biggest water transportation mogul, Dr. Gani Tarzan Balogun. It was an A-list of who is who in the industry and we at Creative Nigeria wish the new wedded couple a blessed and fruitful marriage.
**Dr George Moghalu, the Managing Director of Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) says that NIWA will leave no stone unturned in the quest to arrest boat accidents on Nigeria waterways. He further said that all Stakeholders must show responsibility towards having accident free water transportation in Nigeria, adding that the waterways remain the best and safest means of logistics and human movement. Dr Moghalu says NIWA will discuss with relevant stakeholders on how to provide insurance cover for all categories of businesses on Nigerian waterways.
** Still on NIWA, Dr Moghalu praised the Nigerian press for its interest in the affairs of NIWA since he came on board praying for solution driven criticism and comments which will keep NIWA management on its toes rather than negative reportage which will not move the business of water transportation forward.
** Sport Tourism (Athletic); Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan clocked 12.30secs to set a new games record in womens 100m hurdles after she became the first Nigerian athlete to win a world athletics championship gold medal. Another Nigerian, Goodness Nwachukwu won gold medal in the women discus event, breaking the world record with 34.84meters. Folashade Oluwafemiayo also smashed a world record in power lifting to win a gold medal. A new African record of 42.10secs was set in the women’s 4 by 100m at the game in Birmingham which ended on Monday night by the quartet of Tobi Amusan, Favor Ofili, Rosemary Chukuma and Grace Nwokocha.
** Lagos state government will unveil a 30year development plan 2022-2052 on October 11 during the state economic summit also named as “Ehingbeti”. The plan will seek to transform the state into an African model mega city and financial/technology hub through the eradication of poverty and unemployment through technical education.
** Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Lekan Balogun has called on Nigerians to take responsibility for the protection of critical infrastructure for mutual benefit of all. The Royal Monarch spoke at stakeholders meeting organized by Nigerian communications commission (NCC) where he pleaded with Nigerians to support NCC to achieve the objectives of protecting telecom infrastructures across Nigeria.
** About 72 Benin bronzes looted during the invasion of the Benin kingdom in the 18th century will be returned by Horniman Museum and Gardens in south East London. Part of items to the returned include 12 brass plaques known as Benin bronzes, a brass cockerel Altarpiece (Okoko), Ivory and brass ceremonial objects, brass belts and a key to the King’s palace.
** ** A 5 man committee to organize the celebration of World Tourism Day, September 27th has been inaugurated in Lagos on behalf of Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) by Gani Tarzan Balogun. The sub committees are on logistics and security, fund raising and mobilization, Protocol and Hospitality, Media and Publicity and Events planning. According to Gani Balogun, the various committees will submit their positions next week Tuesday, August 16th. President of FTAN Mr Nkerewun Onung, two weeks ago in Abuja directed Mr Gani Balogun who is President of the Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria (ATBOWATON) to put together a planning committee comprising of all relevant stakeholders to organize the best World Tourism Day ever in Lagos, come September 27th this year.
