FCTA DEEPENS PARTNERSHIP ON ARTS, CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT
By: Shaka Sunday
The Federal Capital Territory Administration has continued to demonstrate its commitment to forging stronger partnerships with foreign missions as a way of boosting cultural diplomacy, attracting investment, and promoting social development in the FCT.
This sustained effort is designed to position the Territory as a centre of opportunities where international collaboration can bring tangible benefits to residents.
This drive was the outcome of the proactive and visionary leadership of the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, whose administration has placed premium value on building mutually beneficial relationships with nations and institutions that share the same aspirations of growth and development.
Under his watch, the FCT has opened fresh doors of engagement with diplomatic missions and has encouraged agencies like the Social Development Secretariat to become active players in cultural exchange and creative industry promotion.
It was in this spirit that the Permanent Secretary of the Social Development Secretariat, Ms. Olowookere Olubunmi, while receiving the Head of Mission and Charge d’Affaires of the Uganda High Commission, Ambassador Philip Ochen Odida, on behalf of the Secretariat, reiterated that the FCT is eager to promote cultural exchanges and tourism development with Uganda.
She explained that the Secretariat remains the hub for arts, culture, tourism, and social welfare because the departments that drive these vital areas are domiciled within it.
Ms. Olowookere also expressed delight at the visit and assured that the Secretariat is open for further engagement that will add value to both countries.
Responding, Ambassador Odida pledged Uganda’s readiness to partner with the Secretariat in building capacity over the next five years. He said that Uganda and Nigeria share deep ties in arts, culture and tourism, adding that regional cooperation is needed to bridge gaps and unlock greater opportunities for both nations.
The Envoy described Nigeria as a country with purpose and vast opportunities, and said that his mission was to deepen the ties that already exist, explore new areas of collaboration and learn from Nigeria’s rich experience in arts and culture, while also sharing Uganda’s.
The Ugandan Envoy stressed that Africans must work together to present a united front before the world, noting that when the West sees such unity, it would have no choice but to recognise Africa as the continent of new opportunities. He expressed appreciation to the FCT Administration and the Secretariat for the warm reception and the gifts extended to him during the visit.
The Acting Director of the Department of Arts and Culture, Mrs. Lilian Francisca Edoh, also spoke at the event. She thanked the Mandate Secretary, Hon. Ibrahim Aminu, and the Permanent Secretary, Ms. Olowookere, for their consistent support and encouragement. She noted that their leadership has made it possible to extend invitations for partnerships to foreign missions and organisations that share common interests in advancing socio-cultural development in the FCT.
The engagement with the Uganda High Commission underscores the determination of the Barrister Nyesom Wike-led FCT Administration to use culture, tourism, and creative industries as tools for international cooperation. It also shows how diplomacy at the city level can create opportunities for growth, development, and investment that will benefit residents of the Federal Capital Territory.
Above all, the renewed partnership speaks to the broader vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to foster unity, attract global opportunities, and deliver tangible progress to Nigerians across all sectors.
