The Director General, Ekiti State Council of Arts and Culture(ESCAC) , Amb. Wale Ojo-Lanre on Sunday said Ekiti State Cultural festival (EKIFEST), EKIFEST is not a mere jamboree or entertainment, but an event repackaged to showcase the culture of Ekiti people,hunt and promote talents,create employment for the teeming unemployed youths and generate revenue.
Ojo lanre who disclosed this on Sunday in Ado Ekiti while unveiling the Festival logo said Over 25,000 guests including about 20 respectable Nollywood actors will participate in the cultural event.
He maintained that EKIFEST cultural fiesta was not solely conceptualised to re-awaken the rich arts and culture of Ekiti people, but to as well inject money into the state’s economy , thereby improving the living standards of the people through job creation and strong investment drives.
“Arts and culture has become money, it is wrong to say it is babaric or fetish to promote this sector . It is our identity as Africans and it has to be preserved and protected”, he said.”
He said Governor Kayode Fayemi has been making huge investment in the sector to empower the youths through talent development and wooing of investors to make the state a destination of choice.
“Governor Fayemi has brought a new paradigm in arts , culture and tourism sector. They are not just for entertainment and leisure alone, they are to make huge economic gains on our citizens, individually and collectively. We are developing our talents and marketing them to the world through sponsorship.
Scheduled to hold between Tuesday, December 10 and December 13, will feature events such as Kiddies programmmes, primarily designed to hunt and promote talents as well as instill in the youths the pristine values of Ekiti for economic sustainability.
The DG disclosed that festival also has traditional games/sports; colloquium; taste of Ekiti; performing Arts competitions, command performance; Ekiti fashion show, among others
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