Posted by From PETRUS OBI, Enugu on
The multi-million naira Arts and Culture Complex in Area 10, Garki Abuja has been renamed after renowned writer, Cyprian Ekwensi who passed on recently.
The multi-million naira Arts and Culture Complex in Area 10, Garki Abuja has been renamed after renowned writer, Cyprian Ekwensi who passed on recently.
The FCT Minister, Dr. Aliyu Modibbo Umar who announced the re-naming on Monday said it was one of the decisions reached at the day's meeting of the FCT Executive Committee in Abuja.
The Minister explained that with that decision, the FCT Council for Arts and Culture Complex would now be known as Cyprian Ekwensi Centre for Arts and Culture.
Dr. Umar also said the contribution of the renowned writer to national development especially to the world of arts informed the exco's decision so that it would encourage other creative writers to make selfless service to their fatherland. According to him, the complex would immediately be renovated by the administration and proper dedication ceremony would be done and the family members of the deceased writer would be invited to grace the occasion.
Dr. Umar noted the excellent literary works of the late Cyprian Ekwensi and called on the younger generation of the Association of Nigeria Authors to emulate his selfless service to humanity.
The Minister assured that the FCT Administration would continue to recognize the contributions and good works of statesmen and national leaders who had genuinely served Nigeria, to depict the true picture of Abuja being the center of unity.
'The Federal Capital Territory, Abuja belongs to all Nigerians irrespective of gender, state of origin, social status, political, ethnic or religious affiliations; thus, we will continue to recognize and reward hard work and selfless service to the nation just like what we have done to Cyprian Ekwensi," Dr. Umar stressed. He restated that Ekwensi was not dead as he would continue to live on because his works would surely outlive him.
The complex which houses the FCT Social Development Secretariat as well as the FCT Tourism Board serves as a center where cream of artists, literary and creative minds meet on regular basis to perform, compare notes and share experiences.