Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture Otunba Segun Runsewe has described the role of culture in the society as one strong enough to unify the Country. Speaking to Business 360 News in an exclusive interview in Ekiti state where Contingents from all across the Nation have converged for the National Festival of Arts and Culture, (NAFEST), the NCAC Boss described the Cultural Festival as one positioned to unite Nigerians across irrespective of their cultural differences.
According to him, participants attending the weeklong event are expected to go back home with various experiences ranging from the hospitality of the Ekiti people, the rich scenery of Ekiti Towns surrounded by the hills and the various tour sites such as Ikogosi water Springs and the Arinta Water falls.
Ekiti State was declared a state alongside five other states in the country by the then military government under the late General Sani Abacha on October 1st 1996 and has over the years remained in political view given its strategic position in the western part of Nigeria.
However, with the cultural festival holding in the state, the once quiet town of Ado-Ekiti has been agog with activities and events as visitors continue to throng the town from various parts of the country. And for many, they are visiting the state for the first time, thanks to NAFEST.
The National Festival of Arts and Culture has remained a major event that serves as a platform for mobilizing Stakeholders in the Arts and Culture Industry as each year brings with it a new theme and innovative ideas that foster cultural interactions for participants showcasing talents and at the same time promoting the values of the Nigerian cultural heritage and as a result fostering the development of the spirit of national identity and peaceful co-existence.
The National Council for Arts and Culture under the leadership of Otunba Olusegun Runsewe has indeed positioned itself as one poised to achieve its objectives as it takes advantage of the Nation’s rich cultural and arts resources as a spring board and an instrument for promoting national unity, national integration which in itself promotes economic empowerment and growth.
A major feature at NAFEST is the exhibition grounds which provide a platform for small business to exhibit their goods and services. From food vendors displaying a range of Nigerian delicacies to attires such as the ‘Adire’ tye and dye fabrics, fashion wares, and a lot more.
Most of the business owners who spoke to Business 360 News expressed excitement at the opportunity of attending NAFEST having travelled from not just the neighboring states, but as well from far North and Eastern part of the country.
The cultural fiesta which attracts contingents from all over Nigeria does not only serve as a platform for the exhibition of Nigeria’s Arts and Culture but also provides a unifying link for the diverse ethnic groups in the country as evidenced in the transactions, friendliness and atmosphere of warmth as witnessed at the weeklong event.
Participating states at this year’s event have also gone all out delivering on its theme, ‘’Celebrating National Unity in Diversity’’, as they compete in the various activities lined up for the week. From Drama, Storytelling to Games such as Ayo a Nigerian game played in practically every culture across the nation.
