By Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta
Ogun State contingent to the just concluded 34th National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) held in Ekiti State emerged with laurels as the best in synergy and team work coupled with winning 1st prize in drama, 3rd in children arts and crafts and 5th overall winning States, having ties with Lagos State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
It is reported that 31 states of the federation participated at the annual celebration of the rich Nigerian culture held at Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
Ogun State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Oluwatoyin Taiwo, in a statement made available to Nigerian NewsDirect on Sunday was quoted to have encouraged Nigerians to key into the theme of the festival, “Celebrating National Unity in Diversity.”
The Commissioner urged Nigerians to remain united, irrespective of their ethnic groups and harness the benefits inherent in cultural diversity to drive the economy.
Dr. Taiwo stated that 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.
Appreciating the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun for believing in the contingents and buying into the culture and tourism sector to boost the State economy, the Commissioner advised other 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.
Delta and Nassarawa emerged 4th, Bayelsa and Benue 3rd position, while Rivers and Ekiti States bagged 2nd and 1st positions respectively.