The Lagos State Government has restated its readiness to host the 35th edition of the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) in grand style, revealing that plans to make the Y2022 edition of the festival a historic event kicked off last year.
The Honourable Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, spoke about the upcoming event when she led the State delegation, including the Special Adviser, Mr. Solomon Bonu and Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Oyinade Nathan-Marsh, to a meeting with the officials of National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) in preparation for the Y2022 edition of NAFEST at the Council’s headquarters in Abuja.
Mrs. Akinbile-Yussuf expressed delight for the hospitality shown by the officials of National Council for Arts and Culture, under the leadership of its Director-General, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, explaining that the meeting provided an avenue for the State’s delegation to know the modalities and all that is required to successfully host the event.
While noting that the State Government is desirous of hosting the best of NAFEST in the history of the festival, the Commissioner promised that Lagos is ready to cooperate with the leadership of NAFEST to make the 35th edition of the Festival the best of its kind.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Solomon Bonu, recalled that the quest for the Y2022 hosting rights began in Y2020 when the festival was hosted by Plateau State.
According to him, the Lagos State Government deliberately improved on its facilities to meet all criteria set by the NCAC before clinching the Y2022 hosting right over other aspiring States.
Bonu pointed out that Lagos State will hold a Pre-NAFEST event for seven days preceding the main event. The first event, he said, will serve as an opportunity for all local government areas to showcase their rich cultural heritage.
The Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, who hosted the meeting, congratulated Lagos State Government for winning the hosting right for NAFEST 2022, which he described as a big achievement.
He disclosed that the festival is the foremost cultural event in Nigeria and aimed at uniting the nation through Arts and Culture, stressing that the festival would provide an opportunity for Lagos State to bring its well-known finesse to bear in making the Y2022 edition of the festival grand.
Runsewe expressed confidence that Lagos would provide comfortable and accessible accommodation, logistics and security, amongst other things, for the festival.
He said: “As a build-up to the event, Lagos State shall host a National Technical Committee (NTC) meeting comprising of Commissioners and the Directors of States’ Art Councils and the Management of the NCAC”.
He further explained that the National Technical Committee serves as a platform for reviewing and adopting the syllabus for the festival as well as inspection of venues for various events.
The highlight of the visit was the conferment of the title of “MAMA NAFEST 2022” on the First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu who is expected to host the children during the festival.
