FA Cup: NCAC To Present Visual Art of Iheanacho To Leicester City, Ministers

FA Cup: NCAC To Present Visual Art of Iheanacho To Leicester City, Ministers By Niyi Busari The National Council for Arts and Culture, NCAC, will present graphically immortalise Iheanacho's patriotic feat wrapping himself up with Nigerian flag after his team 1-0 win over Chelsea at the Wembley Stadium last Saturday. Director General of NCAC, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe made this known in Abuja while addressing the media. He said such uncommon display of patriotism by Iheanacho must not go uncelebrated, adding that it speaks of Nigeria as a great nation with great people. He said, "On 15 May, 2021 far away in England, at the Wembley Stadium, a powerful and fascinating merger between Culture and Sports showcased itself. Beneath the pomp, glitz and glamour of England FA final between Chelsea and Leicester City, a unique, spectacular and outstandingly show of patriotism was on display. It came in the manner of Kelechi Iheanacho, the big boy of Leicester City FC, soaked in love for Nigeria. Fully wrapped in Nigerian green-white-green national colour while carrying on his head a cultural basket of victory on his head to celebrate Leicester success, the Nigeria cultural way." He continued, "Hand in hand with Ndidi, a fellow compatriot, he stole the show the Nigeria way. For a moment, the Nigeria Cultural Symbolism was beamed live to the world by digital cameras from the Wembley Stadium. For us at National Council for Arts and Culture, this uncommon display of patriotism must not go uncelebrated. For one, it speaks of Nigeria as a great nation with great people. With all eyes on Iheanacho, he was telling the world "Yes we can" and with us "It is possible". He said entries are opened for artists who wish to be part of the contest to start their registration, the visual art will be presented to the Honourable Minister of Information and Culture and Minister of Sports as well as Leicester City. "To graphically immortalise Iheanacho's heroic and patriotic feat, we are calling on entries from Nigeria visual artists to creatively represent the quintessential Iheanacho on stage with Nigerian colour as enacted at the Wembley Stadium during English FA Cup final. The best three entries shall win awards and will be presented to the Honourable Minister of Information and Culture as well as Minister of Sports and Leicester City in England. "The winning entries will also be exhibited at Ekiti during our 2021 National Festival of Arts and Culture (Ekiti NAFEST) 2021. The artistic works shall also go into our Hall of Fame and Art Gallery as a living memory of Iheanacho's metaphor of merger between Culture and Sports."