Lagos State government is currently hosting this year’s NAFEST National Stakeholders Technical Meeting on the 35th National Festival of Arts and Culture tagged ‘Eko 2022’ between July 25 and 29 2022 at High Point Event and Lodge, Ikeja.
Speaking during the opening ceremony on Tuesday, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, welcomed all stakeholders to Lagos for the 53rd National Technical Stakeholders Meeting for the actualization of plans towards the hosting of the forthcoming ‘Eko NAFEST 2022’, the 35th in its series.
His message: Lagos State is delighted and honoured to be granted the hosting right for NAFEST 2022, which was keenly contested by three other states.
The festival, which is the foremost cultural event among government institutions in Nigeria, has been a platform to unite the nation through arts and culture.
The governor reminded that as the country’s cultural, arts and entertainment capital, it is on record that the inaugural edition of the National Festival of Arts and Culture, NAFEST, was held in Lagos in 1977 to promote national unity. “Therefore, for us in Lagos, NAFEST is merely coming back home and we are ready to host a most befitting festival.”
According to him, some of the highlights of this years NAFEST would be a Pre-NAFEST event for seven days to herald the EKO NAFEST 2022, and also showcase the rich cultural heritage of all the Local Government Areas in the state.
He assured that all hands are on deck, facilities are ready, plans are in top gear not only for Lagos State to host the most colourful, “but also to emerge the overall winner in the ‘EKO NAFEST 2022’ as well as adequate security and emergency services.”
Also speaking at the opening ceremony, the Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, urged people outside of Lagos to look towards visiting the State because Lagos has a history that can be linked to the arts, entertainment and culture way back as Festac 1977 and this will further accelerate the cultural sector of the country.
He disclosed that the National Stakeholders Technical Meeting on
NAFEST provides a platform for them to interact, review and critically appraise the blueprint for the upcoming festival.
He also stated that the Theme of each edition of NAFEST is always adopted in response to the national realities of the moment and to address serious national challenges, adding that the theme for this year is ‘Culture and Peaceful Coexistence’ in response to the current security challenges facing the nation.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs Oyinade Nathan-Marsh, while delivering the Welcome Address said Lagos was ready to host a most successful festival.
Twenty four States were represented at the Stakeholders Meeting for the EKO NAFEST 2022.
