President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Abuja inspected a cultural exhibition put up by the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) as part of Nigeria’s 61st Independence anniversary.
Buhari was accompanied by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government, Senate President, Ahmed Lawan and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.
The exhibition of Nigeria’s cultural treasures, which opened at the Banquet Hall of the Aso villa, Abuja, on Thursday, would last for 15 days.
The exhibition is featuring a replica of the iconic Zuma rock, cuisines from across the six geo-political zones, royal attires across ethnic groups, Nigerian leaders from the pre-colonial age and lots more.
Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, NCAC Director-General, said that the exhibition of the nation’s cultural treasures was organised to educate Nigerians on the cultural endowments of the nation.
Runsewe said that the NCAC would be facilitating student’s visit to the exhibition stand to keep them abreast of nation’s cultural endowments.
According to him, students from 12 schools within Abuja would be coming on educational tour of the exhibition stand.
“Nigeria is uniquely endowed with lots of tangible and intangible cultural products which should be constantly on display for all to see.
“We have packaged this exhibition to educate our students; we will be bringing in students from 12 schools around the Federal Capital Territory here.
“We intend to catch them young and allow them know more about the nation’s cultural treasures,” he said.
Among delicacies from the North on display are brabisco, Tuwo Dawa, kuka marghi, fura-de-nono, kunun shinkafa, massa, dan wake and kulikuli were exhibited.
Others are pounded yam, acha, karkashi, beni seed soup, pito, kunu and akara, tuwo shinkafa, dried Okro, taushe, zobo, sinasir, danbu, kilishi and dakuwa.
The South-South had starch, Banga fisherman, palmwine, roasted plantain and peppered fish on display.
For the South-West, cuisines like amala, ewedu, gbegiri, palmwine, moimoi, akara, peppered snail and Agidi were exhibited.
Also from the South-East, Akpu, ofe oweri, egusi, palmwine and abacha were displayed as visitors took different meals from their choiced geo-political zones.
Masqueraders like Eyo and more from different ethnic groups performed to the excitement of all present.