National Council For Arts And Culture Abuja – A True Nigerian Treasure (Photos)

Earlier this month, the Buzz Nigeria crew visited the National Council for Arts And Culture (NCAC) Abuja and we were totally amazed at the pool of talented individuals available in this blessed country “Nigeria”.

It’s
surprising the amount of talent available in Nigeria, unfortunately,
most of these talented individuals end up going to the grave with their
talent which would have probably made them millionaires and in return
improved the economy of the country.

You find a lot of Nigerians
traveling far and wide in search of artworks, paintings and various
precious gems which could easily be found or made right here in the
country. The rich spend millions of dollars promoting numerous artists
all over the world, yet our local talents are ignored and hardly given
the recognition and value they deserve.
Even when local artists
are cable of producing superior works as compared to other foreign
artists, our local artists are usually the last choice or not even
considered at all.

About The National Council For Arts And Culture (NCAC)

The
National Council For Arts And Culture was established between 1975 and
1987.  It is a Federal Government organization with the responsibility
of coordinating development and promotion of the Living Arts and Culture
of Nigeria at national and international levels.
The council promotes skill acquisition and youth empowerment through cultural industries by focusing on Arts and Crafts.
Its target areas are in the development of music,
traditional dancing, drama, indigenous games, opera, cinema, films,
photography, folklore, oral tradition, literature and poetry, painting,
sculpture, architecture and general arts, woodworks, embroidery, weaving
and similar crafts.

Notable Sites and locations At The NCAC Abuja

As
you move around the NCAC, you will notice there are a wide variety of
things on sale, artworks, and various artists to engage with. Most of
the shops have been creatively made in the form of huts, neatly mapped
out in a very clean and safe environment. Other notable places to visit
within the complex include:

Madiba Antique

Madiba Antique is a lifestyle Restaurant at the National Council for Arts And Culture Abuja. They focus on Nigerian dishes
mostly from the Eastern part of Nigeria. Their menu includes various
types of goat meals (Nkwobi, Isi-ewu, and more), ukwa, snails, smoked
fish, cow meals (cow leg, cow tail and more), roasted yam, various
soups, popular Nigerian dishes and lots more.
The restaurant
itself is a work of art; various paintings, artworks, and sculptures
have been used for both the interior and exterior decoration. The
ambiance of the restaurant is warm and welcoming with very friendly and
well-trained staffs. If you are looking for something out of the norm,
Madiba Antique is definitely a location to wine and dine when in Abuja.

Female Artists Association Of Nigeria (FEAAN)

The
Female Artists Association of Nigeria (FEAAN) was primarily set up with
the aim to identify talented Nigerian female artists; and further using
them and their skills to bring about positive social changes and
developments in the society.
The association engages in several
exhibitions that touch on social, political and gender issues in the
society. They have an art gallery at the NCAC Abuja where various
artworks by numerous female artists are on display and could also be
bought. The Art Gallery usually have an event at least once a month
which brings the artists together as they showcase their talent and
network with others.

The Vision – NCAC

The
vision of the organization is to use culture as a cornerstone to build a
solid nation where the citizens shall see its cultural diversity as a
source of strength.

The Mission Statement – NCAC

The
National Council for Arts and Culture shall be committed to the
development and promotion of the living Arts and Cultures of Nigeria,
using it as resources for national integration and unity; as well as
serve as a catalyst for sustainable growth and development of the
Nation.

In
line with the vision and mission, the NCAC is refocusing its programs
and projects towards positively improving the perception of culture and
cultural activities, as serious business opportunities capable of job creation, poverty alleviation, curbing rural-urban drift and economic empowerment.


Finally,
even though more can be done and needs to be done, it is important to
note that the Nigerian government is really doing a good job at
promoting arts and culture locally. It all comes down to us the citizens
to support this industry by visiting and patronizing our local artists.