Chief Olusegun Runsewe, Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), says Lagos State will host the 35th edition of the National Festival for Arts and Culture (NAFEST) in 2022.
Runsewe said this at the closing ceremony of NAFEST 2021 late Saturday night.
The festival with the theme, “Celebrating National Unity in Diversity”, commenced on Nov. 14 and ended on Nov. 22.
NCAC is responsible for organising the annual cultural festival.
“The 2022 edition of NAFEST will hold in Lagos State.
“Lagos is waiting for the world and we are going to Lagos with an advanced NAFEST, we will do something bigger than what we have had in the past,” he said.
Runsewe said that NAFEST remained a veritable tool for uniting the nation, adding that such cultural festivals would stop agitations for separation.
“We will get Nigeria united, by all means, we must remove that spirit of dishonesty, hatred and fake news, all must go now.
“The story been carried around that Nigeria is going to be divided, you can see 31 states in Ekiti, this is to tell us that nothing can divide this country, the country will remain.
“I thank Ekiti people and the government for receiving the 31 states and giving us the impression we need, it is a big statement and I remain grateful.
“There is no reason to disagree among ourselves considering the beauty of this nation, rather, we should stand together in love, peace and harmony,” he said.
Runsewe noted that over 450 Ekiti indigenes had been empowered with some forms of skills like wig and bead making, tailoring, cosmetology, shoe making and conversion of waste to wealth.
He added that the festival had raised the income of Ado-Ekiti
residents especially those in hotel, transportation and other businesses.
According to him, with such festival, Nigeria will be stronger and better again. (NAN)
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