Day Runsewe Spoiled Bangladeshi Envoy A little

The outgoing High Commissioner of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, His Excellency, Mr. Md. Shameen Ahsan, has commended the Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, NCAC, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, and his management team for spoiling him a little as he finishes his tour of duty in Nigeria.

Recalling his period of stewardship in the country with nostalgic feelings, Ambassador Ahsan described Nigeria as “home away from home” for him and his family.

He said this at a send-forth ceremony organized in his honour by the NCAC in Abuja.

He praised Runsewe for using arts and culture as a veritable tool to unite the diplomatic community in Abuja and Nigeria at large.

“I will remain eternally grateful to the DG and the entire NCAC family for the platform provided for my country to showcase our rich cultural heritage during the 11th and 12th INAC Expo. Those memories I will ever cherish”, he reiterated.

The outgoing High Commissioner of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh noted that during his stay in Nigeria, his country was able to participate fully in the Abuja Carnival, Calabar Carnival, two editions of the International Arts and Crafts Expo (INAC) and other cultural events in which over 60 delegates from Bangladesh not only participated but also witnessed a rich Bangladesh/Nigeria joint cultural show which drew loud applause from all attendees.

According to Runsewe, a national awardee of the Officer of the Order of the Niger, OON, the memory of the harmonious diplomatic relationship shared with the outgoing Bangladeshi High Commissioner will remain evergreen.

Wishing him well at his new posting, the Vatican in Rome, Otunba Runsewe revealed that during Ambassador Ahsan’s stay in Nigeria, the outgoing High Commissioner culturally cemented the relationship that existed between the two countries as evident in Bangladesh’s attendance of the 11th and 12th editions of the International Arts and Crafts Expo (INAC) and other cultural events organized in Nigeria, with robust display of his country’s rich cultural endowments.

Runsewe disclosed that the outgoing High Commissioner, an expert in Security and International Relations, has served in countries like Kuwait, United States, particularly Washington), and parts of Africa prior to his posting to Nigeria in 2017. Runsewe also recalled that the relationship between Nigeria and Bangladesh was very cordial, created a strong bond and opened a window for cultural diplomacy between the two countries.

The NCAC boss, therefore, urged the outgoing High Commissioner to sustain his high level of integrity and diplomatic acumen in his new assignment though the Council will dearly miss his wealth of experience.

The outgoing High Commissioner thanked the Director-General for being a wonderful host and assured him that the People’s Republic of Bangladesh will attend the 13th edition of INAC next month.

The high point of the event was the presentation of various souvenir gift items to the outgoing High Commissioner by the Director-General, cutting of cake, and a farewell toast conducted by Runsewe who promised to be a special guest of the outgoing High Commission in his new country of assignment, in the nearest future.