Ogun State Contingents at the just concluded 34th edition of the National Festival for Arts and Culture (NAFEST), held at Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, shone like a million Stars, winning laurels in major events including the top position in drama
The State was over the weekend, conferred with laurels as the best in synergy and team work, 1st in drama, 3rd in children arts and crafts, despite finishing in the overall 5th position behind host Ekiti, Rivers, Bayelsa and Benue jointly in third position as well as Delta and Nassarawa states who ended in 4th position
Ogun jointly shared the 5th overall winning States,with Lagos State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), out of 31 states
The State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Oluwatoyin Taiwo speaking at the event, encouraged Nigerians to key into the theme of the festival, “Celebrating National Unity in Diversity” remain united, irrespective their ethnic groups and harness the benefits inherent in cultural diversity to drive the economy.
According to him, the lessons learnt from the festival is to perceive the strength in other ethnic groups, embrace, reposition and redefine various rich cultural potentials the country is blessed with and showcase it to the world in exchange for foreign currencies.
The Commissioner who appreciated Governor Dapo Abiodun for believing in the contingents and keying into the Culture and Tourism sector to boost the State economy, urged other State Governors to follow suit to make Nigeria united, saying the development of Nigeria should be a collective effort of all.
Giving his closing remark, the Director General for National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Olusegun Runsewe noted that the interaction and display of cultural values at Ekiti 2021 NAFEST, have shown that Nigerians are united, and this is a turning point for Nigerians to embrace their diversity as strength.
Also speaking, Ekiti State Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism, Prof. Rasaki Ojo Bakare, appreciated all State’s Governors that approved their State to be represented at NAFEST, imploring everyone to improve more on reviving the dying culture of truth and transparency and reawaken their consciousness to promote the culture of peace and unity.
Ogun State Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Olusegun Olaotan expressed that NAFEST is a celebration of cultural heritage richness, a unifying platform that indicates oneness of Nigeria, advising not to take the diversity in cultures for granted.
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