NAFEST to Boost Ekiti Rich Cultural Heritage

The forthcoming Ekiti 2021 NAFEST with its theme “Celebrating Unity in Diversity” billed for November 13 through November 20, 2021 will definitely attract huge numbers of tourism and culture stakeholders to the state.

So far, the National Council for Arts and Culture, NCAC, has concluded all arrangements to make the 52nd edition of the national festival a successful experience.

To extensively tap into Ekiti State economic potentials, NCAC, has assured to implore NAFEST platform in showcasing rich cultural heritage of Ekiti State across globe.

Director General, NCAC, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, revealed this during the opening session of a three days National Technical Stakeholders’ meeting which held from August 3 to August 5, 2021 in Ekiti State. Runsewe, who is also President, World Crafts Council, African Region pointed out that culture has its unique way of uniting the people, and therefore brings about sustainable peace and national development.

Ekiti State governor who was represented by his deputy, His Excellency, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi noted “any state that fails to take into account the need to situate culture as well as the creative capacity of its people within its developmental plan is bound to face serious social, political and economic crisis in the long run.”

While expressing excitement over the forthcoming NAFEST, Egbeyemi revealed that the event will promote national unity, social integration, redirect cultural activities, revenue generation and create windows of investment opportunities for the economic growth of not only Ekiti State but Nigeria at large.

The Ekiti State Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism, Professor Rasaki Ojo Bakare in his opening speech said that the essence of the meeting was to remind stakeholders of iconic American President, Abraham Lincoln’s quote: “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four hours sharpening the axe”. This quote, according to Ojo Bakare, underscores the importance of proper planning towards having a satisfactory NAFEST. According to him, this collective interface among all the principal implementers of the NAFEST 2021 project has become and will continue to be a major success factor in every successful edition of the NAFEST.

Bakare reiterated that Ekiti State which is the home of honour, a home of professors, a home of good food and most hospitable and peaceful state harbours people of different ethnic and religious groups all over the country, adding that the state will set a new standard in the hosting of NAFEST.  At the meeting were over 30 states Commissioners of Culture and other stakeholders in the culture and tourism sector across country.

Runsewe earlier added that time has come for Nigeria stakeholders to change the narratives of culture in Nigeria. According to him, it is time for all hands to be on deck to take our good hands, good ideas and good culture to other parts of the world.

Runsewe also commended the EKiti State Cultural Troupe for their wonderful performances and promised to give them more exposure to the outside world. He urge the Culture Commissioners and stakeholders to tap into the SWOT analysis and emphasize the good aspect of our country for time has come for the Nation to blow its trumpet.