AFIDFF Holds Cultural Exhibitions To Mark World Day For Cultural Diversity, Dialogue And Development.

On Monday 22nd May 2023, cultural enthusiasts, Government Agencies and Non-Governmental Organizations, and Diplomatic Missions in Nigeria gathered at the AFIDFF Hub to commemorate the 2023 World Day for cultural diversity to promote cultural heritage. 

It is one of the priority areas of UNESCO to celebrate Cultural Diversity, Dialogue and Development in ‘Protecting Our Heritage, Social, Cultural Sustainability’. 

The theme we adopted this year is celebrating and recognizing Nigeria's Artistic and Cultural ICON with Global Recognition, LADI Kwali, who had made great contributions to the preservation and utilization of her God-given talent in Pottery to raise livelihoods in our communities.

Her handwork had gone beyond the shores of Nigeria and helped to raise our cultural profile worldwide. We remember today and would continue to do so until the female folk realize that they are potentially movers and shakers of the global creative industry.

The event featured different Cultural Exhibitions witnessed by top-notch stakeholders who explored the possibility of networking as a way of enhancing cultural tourism promotion and Preservation.

The Special guest of Honor at the event, His Excellency Senator Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha, Chairman, Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism lauded the initiative especially as it celebrated the works of late Nigerian Pottery Icon, Dr Ladi Kwali describing her as a ‘Mother of Culture.’ 

He said that she was being celebrated because of the way she carried her peculiar feminine spirit which stood at the side of honours with no intention of amassing wealth.

The Owelle said that we could prevent cultural extinction by the continuous preservation of our heritage while calling on Nigerians and Africans to give more attention to culture to prevent it from extinction as this could also be used to promote peace and stability among people and communities.

Senator Okorocha also promised to dedicate and name one of the administrative blocks of Rochas Foundation Schools with Ladi Kwali to immortalize her great name and encourage cultural heritage. He was later presented with different gifts by AFIDFF and the Mairo Women Foundation.

While delivering her Keynote speech, the Director General AFIDFF, Malame Mangzha reiterate that as Nigerians and Africans, we must collaborate and promote our cultural heritage and values which are the core objectives of AFIDFF to prevent their subjugation.

She said this event was geared towards celebrating Dr Ladi Kwali for her giant strides in putting Nigeria and Africa on the Creativity World through her amazing pottery talent and works while also promoting women's participation in entrepreneurship. 

Also speaking at the event was, Mr. Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed, Director-General, National Troupe of Nigeria who said that the event aimed at educating young school children to gain knowledge about their culture and understand its importance towards community development.

He called on local and international communities to consciously increase cultural cohesion among diverse community settings to achieve global peaceful co-existence and development.

The Director General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Pro. Isah Abba Tijani in his message to the event, said the nation cherishes its cultural relics and was ready to do all things possible to protect and preserve it. He paid glowing tribute to AFIDFF and its Partners such as the National Troupe of Nigeria and others, for their interest in the promotion of Culture and Tourism in Nigeria.

The Secretary General, National Commission for UNESCO in Nigeria and the National Tourism Development Authority also delivered goodwill messages at the occasion.

School Children from IDP Centres and those of the Capital Science Academy and Blooming Hills International School were invited to the event. They were taken ro8und the exhibition stands and addressed by the Special Guest of Honor, Sen. Rochas Okorocha.

Guests at the event were also thrilled by the different cultural exhibitions by the Korean Cultural Centre, the Ladi Kwali Family who showcased personal artefacts of Ladi Kwali, the Mario Women Foundation who made a live moulding of different pots, live band performances and so much more.