French institute inaugurates talent and creativity project in Nigeria

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Institut

The Institut Français du Nigéria (IFN) on Friday inaugurated a year-long recreational project titled “Garden After Work”, to promote talent and creativity in Nigeria.

Ms Marina Lacal, the Cultural Programme Officer of IFN, who officially inaugurated the project in Abuja, said that the aim was to promote French cultural exchange between France and Nigeria.

She said through the platform, IFN would promote French culture and also discover new creative talents in Nigeria.

Lacal said “We want to help and we are here to help Nigeria artistes to grow and boost the affiliation between France and Nigeria.

“The whole idea is to bring all the creative people together, to establish link with artistes who do not know them and also to create project together.

“We observed inadequacy in bridging gaps between creative fields and cultural sphere, therefore the need to be in touch with the Nigeria cultural scene, so this event is for that.

“We have creative projects growing in Abuja, but sometimes issue of funds and venue poses challenge for people to express themselves creatively, therefore this platform to bring creative minds together”.

She said that the event designed for various artistic fields such as dance, theatre, music, photography and cinema would hold from 5.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m. every third Thursday of the month.

She said the event would be hosted free of charge for people wanting to unwind, but only those who want drinks would pay.

Speaking, Mrs Christa Marchardt, Attaché, Cultural Affairs to Nigeria, said the event was born out of the need for people wanting to showcase their talents to do so.

“We have put this together to encourage creative people to come to the garden after work, to connect and share together what they are talented in doing.

“The idea is for people to do some cultural projects within Abuja and Nigeria at large.

“The idea is also to open the door for people to unwind and to cease opportunity to improve their own creative projects,” she said.

In separate remarks, some of participants at the event commended the initiative and appealed to the Federal Government to further partner with France to promote creativity in the country.

A participant, Ms Lere-Adams Jemima, described the project as a good environment and creative space that would naturally enable young people who are into arts, music or culture develop themselves.

Jemima, who is a Batch C’ 2018 Corps Member, urged young people not to always rely on government to develop their talents, but engage themselves through such platforms to achieve target.

“Government does not have to teach us everything, we have to teach ourselves, the IFN has created enabling environment and all we to do is key into it,” Jemima said.

In another remark, Ms Oloyede Mayowa, said the project would help to draw young people together, improve their talents, as individual, entrepreneurs and artistes.

She, however, urged government to support the project to further strengthen existing bilateral links with France. (NAN)

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