COMMUNIQUE OF 53RD NATIONAL STAKEHOLDERS TECHNICAL MEETING ON THE ON 35TH NATIONAL FESTIVAL OF ARTS AND CULTURE EKO NAFEST 2022
Preamble
The National Technical Committee of the 35th edition of the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) held between Monday 25th and Friday 29th July, 2022 in Lagos State.
The meeting which was jointly hosted by the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) and the Lagos State Government was attended by State Commissioners of Arts and Culture, Chief Executives of Culture, Permanent Secretaries in the States Ministries of Culture, States Directors and Staff of National Council for Arts and Culture as well as other key stakeholders. A total number of Twenty-Five (25) States and Federal Capital Territory were in attendance.
The Premise
It is important for the nation at this critical juncture of our national development to understand the implications of the widening gap of distrust between the different ethnic groups and tribes that make up Nigeria for a peaceful co-habitation. Fortunately, our culture has remained the `glue` that has held us together.
It is therefore important, to see the culture and arts sector as the most viable option to foster national unity and the only brand that can promote our uniqueness as Nigerians to the world. The prospects are great for us as a nation if the Nigerian development plans within all sector are directly hinged on our cultural outlook.
Afterall, our culture is business
THEREFORE, AFTER A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF ISSUES, STATE OF THE SECTOR, DELIBERATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS, THE MEETING RESOLVED AS FOLLOWS:
States and stakeholders should continue to mobilize interests to sustain the various National cultural programmes so that government can understand the importance of the sector to national development.
That government and the legislature at all levels should as a matter of urgency put proper legislation in place to accord culture its proper place within the framework of national development.
That Government at all levels should make more budgetary commitment to cultural and tourism promotion as a tool for enhancing national unity, improving employment generation and promoting international relationships.
The need for more synergy and cooperation between Cultural Agencies for greater and more sustainable gains was emphasized, with particular reference to CBAAC’s Memo concerning the 45th Anniversary celebration of FESTAC ’77
Participants called for the reintroduction and teaching of Nigerian History, Fine and Applied Arts in our school curriculum as a means of understanding and appreciating the Nigerian brand, encourage productivity and an all-round development of youths.
The need for all Art councils across the nation to begin an urgent and proper archiving (electronic and all otherwise) of our cultural practices so as to separate the spiritual from the performative available for public consumption, as this is key to growing cultural tourism business in Nigeria.
Participants adopted 7th to 13th November, 2022 as the date for EKO NAFEST 2022 in Lagos State.
Ratified the investiture of the Wife of the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs.) Ibijoke Sanwoolu as “MAMA NAFEST”
Finally, participants expressed their profound appreciation to the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwoolu and the entire people of Lagos State for accepting to host the 35th edition of NAFEST and for the Technical Meeting.
Participants equally expressed appreciation to the wife of the Lagos State Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) Ibijoke Sanwoolu for her warm reception of the delegates from all the States of the federation and the FCT.
The Honourable Commissioner, Mrs. Uzamat Akingbile Yussuf and the Management and Staff of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and the Lagos State Performing Troupe were also appreciated for making the stakeholders meeting successful and their warm reception.
7.0. Members of the Communique Drafting Committee: -
Hon. Salifu Isah Idachaba- Hon. Com. Kogi State Min. of Culture & Tourism, CHAIRMAN
Mrs. Oyinade Nathan-Marsh- Perm. Sec. Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture, L/S- Member
Iryn .E. Omorogiuwa- Perm. Sec. Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora Affairs, Edo- Member
Ibrahim Umar- Executive Secretary, History and Culture Bureau, Kano State- Member
Dr. Evelyn Otaigbe- Director Planning and Research, National Gallery of Arts- Member
Omoniyi Dotun Victor- Zonal Director National Council for Arts and Culture, Lagos-Secretary
MEMBERS OF THE FINAL COMMUNIQUE DRAFTING COMMITTEE
Israel Eboh, fta - National President, National Association of Nigerian Theatre
Arts Practitioners (NANTAP) - Chairman
Dr. (Mrs.) Akindele Adetola Nike - Ag. Director, Lagos State Council for Arts
and Culture - Member
Adeniran Makinde, fta - Secretary-General, National Association of Nigerian
Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP) - Member
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