The Second Lady of Nigeria, Hajiya Nana Shettima, and the wife of the Vice President of Brazil, Mrs. Maria Lucia Alckmin, on Wednesday embarked on a cultural tour of prominent artistic landmarks in Abuja.
The tour was a symbolic gesture of cultural diplomacy and deepening people-to-people ties by the Second Ladies.
The tour included visits to the renowned Nike Art Gallery and the 5 Cowries Initiative, two institutions at the heart of Nigeria’s vibrant creative landscape.
The visit was part of a broader agenda accompanying the Brazilian Vice President’s official trip to Nigeria for the second session of the Nigeria-Brazil Strategic Dialogue Mechanism (SDM).
The cultural engagement served as a powerful expression of the strengthening bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Brazil, particularly in the areas of arts, education, and women’s empowerment.
Accompanied by their delegations, the Second Ladies were received at the Nike Art Gallery by its founder and iconic Nigerian artist, Chief Oyenike Monica Okundaye.
She led the guests through an expansive collection of more than 5,000 artworks featuring a blend of traditional and contemporary Nigerian art, ranging from textile weaving and beading to charcoal drawings, sculpture, and quilting.
The gallery, a leading space for the preservation and promotion of Nigerian art, also serves as a training ground for young artists, many of whom are women, contributing to both cultural preservation and economic empowerment.
From there, the tour continued to the 5 Cowries Initiative, an arts-based education programme that integrates creative expression into learning.
The initiative uses visual storytelling, painting, and performance to enhance literacy, critical thinking, and emotional development among schoolchildren.
Mrs. Alckmin expressed admiration for the initiative’s work, noting its alignment with Brazil’s own efforts to use arts in education and community building.
“What I’ve seen today reflects the deep cultural wealth of Nigeria and the power of art to shape young minds. It’s a reminder of how culture connects us, across continents,” she said.
Hajiya Nana Shettima echoed the sentiment, describing the tour as an opportunity to showcase Nigeria’s soft power and promote cultural diplomacy as a vehicle for sustainable development.
“Our shared heritage and mutual respect are the foundation of strong bilateral cooperation. Today’s experience reinforces the value of culture in building bridges between our nations,” she remarked.
The visit highlighted not only the richness of Nigerian culture but also the growing role of women in advancing international collaboration and people-centered diplomacy.
As Nigeria and Brazil work to strengthen ties across strategic sectors, ranging from agriculture and energy to defence and innovation, the cultural exchange between the Second Ladies served as a reminder that diplomacy thrives not only in boardrooms, but also in galleries, classrooms, and communities.
