The Arts and Culture sector has evolved from being a mere entertainment establishment into a vision-driven entity that is focused on empowering the people through talent hunt and potential development that will ensure self-reliance and economic prosperity.
The Director General, Ekiti State Council for Arts and Culture, Ambassador Wale Ojo Lanre, made this disclosure at the first Ekiti State Arts and Culture Stakeholders forum held in Ado-Ekiti.
Ojo Lanre, who informed that the forum was aimed at strengthening the Arts and Culture stakeholders to renew their zeal, rejuvenate their interest in creative business and widen their horizon, said the forum become necessary in order to address the glaring depletion of the state creative industries as a result of mass departure into other areas where innate talents are neglected.
Speaking further, the Director General said the forum would provide an avenue for participants to review a vista of history to remind them of the attributes of Ekiti, which are honesty, hard work and diligence, and be informed on how to utilize a wide range of opportunities to expand their creative enterprises through branding.
Declaring the forum open, the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who was represented by the Head of Service, Mr. Deji Ajayi said his administration was committed to diversifying the economy of the State through promotion of Arts and Culture to create employment for the teeming youths.
As part of his administration’s efforts to rejuvenate the cultural heritage of Ekiti, Fayemi declared that the council should stop speaking English Language in public functions, maintaining that Ekiti dialect or Yoruba language should be adopted as the official means of communication for conducting the Council’s cultural affairs.
He also disclosed that Ekiti State was set to float the State Festival of Arts and Culture later this year.
In her remarks, the wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the forum, called for documentation and preservation of Ekiti Cultural heritage, emphasizing the commitments of the present administration to reawakening the Cultural values of Ekiti, through the celebration of the States Festival of Arts and Culture.
The forum with the theme “Arts and Culture for Economic Prosperity” has participants drawn from Arts and Culture industries comprising sculptors, mat weavers, pot makers, local musicians, theatre practitioners, local textiles and blacksmiths, among others.
