Trinidad and Tobago has announced the award of university scholarships to 30 Nigerian youths to learn the art of management of carnival and costume making for steel band.
The offer was made at the weekend by Trinidad and Tobago's Minister of Arts and Multiculturalism, Dr. Lincoln Douglas, on the opening ceremony of the annual carnival in Abuja.
The beneficiaries, it was learnt, would study for degree in Carnival Art Management of Festival in two institutions, University of Trinidad and Tobago and University West.
The minister said he would arrange with the universities for the admission of the Nigerian students as well as their accommodation and payment of tuition fees.
Trinidad and Tobago is one of the many foreign countries that participated in the street carnival in the nation's capital on Saturday. Douglas, who led a 25-man contingent made up of steel band orchestra to Nigeria for the event, also presented several costumes to the Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke.
He said the Caribbean country offered the sponsorship to Nigeria so as to support the creative energy of Nigerian youths as well help in reducing street crimes.
"This a great opportunity for Nigeria and Trinidad and Tobago. We want to share our skills in the area of street carnival and music which we have been doing for 17 years. So, this a platform to bring people together to know each other," he said. Duke described culture as a tool for the promotion of national cohesion and creativity, stressing that Nigeria had the potential to leverage on the plus and possibilities available through tourism and culture.
The second day of Abuja International Culture witnessed the performance of Durbar and traditional food fair and hairdo.
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| Abuja city gate |
Trinidad and Tobago, officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is an island country off the northern edge of South America, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles.
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