As preparations for the 2nd edition of the Japanese Film Festival in Nigeria reach top gear, the Organising Committee has called on the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) to participate actively during the forthcoming film festival scheduled to hold from Wednesday, 2nd to Saturday, 5th of November, 2016, at the French Cultural Centre, Abuja-FCT.
This invitation was extended through the First Secretary & Head, Protocol/Information and Culture Section, Embassy of Japan in Nigeria, Mr. Heideki Sakamoto, during a courtesy call on the Executive Secretary/CEO, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Associate Professor Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, at the Institute’s Headquarters, No. 23 Kigoma Street, Wuse Zone 7, Abuja-FCT, on Tuesday, 18th October, 2016.
Welcoming the guests, the ES, NICO, Professor Barclays Ayakoroma, thanked them for inviting NICO for the film festival, promising that, the Institute will honour the invitation, saying: “The film culture in Japan is very strong we will be available to see the current trends in Japanese films”.
Ayakoroma also informed that the cultural exchange programmes between Nigeria, China and India through international training which some staffers of the Institute attended in China last year and India early this year, respectively, have been invaluable, adding that the Institute will be glad to have such exchange programmes with the Japanese Government.
Earlier, Mr. Heideki Sakamoto, in his speech, thanked the Management of the Institute for the warm reception accorded him, informing that the 2nd edition of the Japanese Film Festival in Nigeria will also feature screening of French animation films and that two highly rated award winning animation films, entitled, Spirited Away and Wolf Children, directed by May Zacky would be screened during the festival.
The diplomat also informed that as a prelude to the 2020 Olympic Games holding in Tokyo, Japan, all sports ministers across the world would gather to analyse the events of the recently concluded Olympics and Paralympics Games held in Rio, Brazil, stressing that the world event would encourage and promote sports exchange among member states, and adding that plans were in top gear in the scheme of things to make contact 
with all relevant MDAs in Nigeria to participate in such international exchange programmes and that NICO would be duly informed.
The First Secretary and Head, Protocol/Information and Culture Section, Embassy of Japan in Nigeria, Mr. Heideki Sakamoto, was accompanied on the courtesy call by the Senior Assistant on General Affairs, Information and Culture, Embassy of Japan in Nigeria, Mr. Chukwuma Nwankwo.
Members of the Institute’s Management in attendance included, the Director, Orientation & Cultural Affairs, Mr. Alex Omijie; Acting Director, Research and Documentation, Mr. Mike Ikoko; Acting Director, Administration and Human Resources, Alhaji Hussein Ibrahim; and Deputy Director & Special Assistant to the E S, Mr. Law Ezeh.
Njideka Dimgba
Corporate Affairs Unit
NICO, Abuja-FCT