With a theme of Exploring the Goldmine inherent in Nigeria’s Creative Industries, the festival seeks an all-inclusive and best outing at the coming event
By Renn Offor
Akwa Ibom State would be hosting the 2016 edition of Nigeria’s Cultural Festival NAFEST. This was reinforced as the unanimous decision of the Chief Executives Of Culture Of The Federation (CEC) after an extensive brainstorming sessions in which the various aspects of organising the festival was reassessed during its 45th meeting which held 23rd to 26th August 2016 on Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State.
The meeting which was declared open by Mr Moses F. Ekpo, MFR, the Deputy Governor of Akwa-Ibom State, had in attendance representatives of Chief Executives of two Federal Parastatals of Culture: National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), National Commission for Museums and Monument (NCMM) and thirteen Directors of State Council for Arts and Culture/History and Culture Bureaux, including Abia,Akwa-Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Ogun, Rivers, Plateau.
In her opening address, the Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) and Chairperson, CEC, Mrs Dayo Keshi in her opening remarks underscored, as the core Agenda of the meeting, the importance of the final adoption of the NAFEST Syllabus, even as she maintained that it was necessary to ‘assess the hosting State’s preparedness to host a fiesta of such magnitude’.
Going on, she maintained that it was also needful to ensure that the council is able ‘to elicit the necessary input towards achieving collective desires for a better and successful NAFEST’,
Mrs Keshi, while disclosing that the theme for 2016 NAFEST scheduled for 2nd – 9th October 2016 is “Exploring the Goldmine Inherent in Nigeria’s Creative Industries”, she went on to passionately charge all those present that it was imperative ‘to find ways of improving on the presentation and marketing of existing Festivals while inventing new ones’.
The Honourable Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Akwa-Ibom State, Otuekong Emmanuel Ibiok, in his address called on all Stakeholders in the Cultural Industry to explore the option of partnering with corporate and private Investors to organize a successful, economically viable and glamorous NAFEST 2016.
The Deputy Governor of Akwa-Ibom State, Mr. Moses F. Ekpo, in his address, requested that the meeting should brainstorm and strategize on how to re-position Nigeria’s Culture to attract global patronage as a major foreign exchange earner for the Country, given the Federal Government’s re-investment drive in Culture and Tourism sub-Sector.
He further said that Nigeria can become a global power in Culture as well as a major exporter of Culture with right mix of resources and tourism integration. He then intimated the meeting of the need for a massive Cultural revival through strategic acculturation.
The communiqué, at the end of the meeting shows that NAFEST 2016 would be looking to focus on Arts and Crafts Competition, Indigenous Poetry Performance, Drama, Traditional Wrestling and Indigenous Cuisines.
As part of the competition, children are to interpret NAFEST 2016 theme through Essay Writing, Painting and Drawing Competition.
Another aspect of focus wouls be to introduce innovations and creativity in designing, packaging and interpretation of the Syllabus contents.
It also reveals that NAFEST 2016, would be capitalizing on Nigeria comparative advantage in the Cultural global market, seeking to take that advantage and to explore.
At the close of the meeting, part of the resolution was that every State and Federal Parastatals of Culture present was given the opportunity to report on their activities and make comments.
Several resolutions unanimously reached after deliberations were that the meeting reaffirmed Akwa-Ibom State as host of NAFEST 2016. The Meeting adopted to do the Arts & Craft as a Competitive event while Traditional Apartment was agreed to be skipped till next time due to its high cost implications.
The CEC unanimously offered hosting rights for the 30th edition (NAFEST 2017) to Kaduna State. I was a move aimed to demonstrate its commitment to ensuring early preparation and successful implementation of the National Festival of Arts and Culture.
The meeting paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State to appreciate his support to the State’s culture sector and the hospitality extended to delegates to the meeting.
The Executive Governor received the members at the Exco Chambers at the Government House. The State indicated strong interest in hosting NAFEST 2016 as proposed by the April body.
The meeting commended the Akwa-Ibom State Government and her people for hosting the 45th edition of Chief Executives of Culture Meeting in the city of Uyo in spite of the current economic challenges and for their tireless efforts in the Sector and enduring commitment to the development and growth of Culture and Tourism.
It also commended the culture-friendly administration of His Excellency, Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel exemplified through the pursuance of the various Infrastructural projects and empowerment programmes.
