Leadership (Abuja)
Golu Timothy
2 April 2008
In order to revert the FCT Arts and Culture Complex, recently re-named Cyprian Ekwensi Arts and Culture Complex, back to its original use, the FCT Executive Committee has ordered the relocation of all offices in the complex.
FCT Minister, Dr. Aliyu Modibbo Umar, who made revelation on Monday in Abuja after the bi-monthly FCT EXCO meeting, said that the complex, as from April 17, 2008, which is its dedication day, would strictly be used for the purpose it was built.
The minister said that the concept of the complex was to provide a 'melting pot' for Arts and Culture practitioners including literary works for this generation and future generation of Nigerians, assuring that it must be maintained to leave a lasting legacy.
Umar disclosed that the first to be moved out of the complex are those occupying the 'Round Huts' for other businesses outside Arts, Culture and literary works, adding that the FCT Social Development Secretariat would then follow.
The minister remarked that the complex would be returned to its old glory in consonance with the dream of its founding fathers.
He said that the money now being expended on the renovation of the complex was sourced from the Organised Private Sector to prove that the sector could really be the engine of any national economy and general development.
Umar reiterated that the renovation, when completed and the complex put to commercial use would maintain itself, independent of public treasury so that facilities therein would not be allowed to deteriorate again.
He restated that two banking halls will be built into the project whose rents could be used to sustain the maintenance of the complex, while a facility manager will be hired to manage the complex and take it to greater heights.
He, however, directed the Social Development Secretariat to commence the process of hiring a facility manager by placing advertisement in the national dailies to invite interested facilities' managers.
The FCT boss appealed to all those affected by the relocatio n order to see it as a sacrifice to be made in the overall interest of the nation because things must be put aright.
It would be recalled that the FCT Minister, Dr. Aliyu Modibbo Umar, on Friday, March 14, 2008, announced that the Cyprian Ekwensi Arts and Culture Complex dedication ceremony has been slated for Thursday, April 17, 2008 to coincide with the date declared by the United Nations to mark the 50th year of Chinua Achebe's famous book "Things Fall Apart".
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