BOUESTI pledges support for NAFEST 2021

Authorities of the Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti have pledged unflinching support for Ekiti State towards the successful hosting of the 34th National Festival of Arts and Culture scheduled for November this year.

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Olufemi Adeoluwa made this known while receiving members of the Local Organising Committee of the Festival led by the Ekiti State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Professor Rasaki Ojo Bakare. He said the university would provide logistic support for the Committee as part of her efforts to ensure a hitch-free festival. The Vice Chancellor opined that the festival was a veritable platform to foster unity, progress and development in the Country.

Professor Adeoluwa lauded the ingenuity of the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi at identifying talents and making effective use of them, stressing that the choice of Professor Ojo Bakare to lead the team was a right decision describing him as a force to reckon with in the promotion of arts and culture.

He said “We will support you in every way. We will collaborate with you. Your success is our success. Our students will be part of the volunteer group as we believe that experience which they are going to garner during the festival cannot be acquired in the classroom”.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the LOC Professor Rasaki Bakare said the National Council for Arts and Culture and the Federal Ministry of Information, Culture and National Orientation gave Ekiti State the opportunity to host this year’s edition. He explained that NAFEST and National Sports Festival were the two national assets that Nigeria created in 1968 as the civil war raged as internal mechanisms to bring all the warring factions together so that Nigeria could be one again. He added that between then and now, 33 editions of the festival had been held and Ekiti State would host the 34^th edition. According to him, Ekiti State would be hosting a national event of that magnitude for the first time, stressing that the narrative has always been that the state lacked facilities and population to host such an event.

He remarked that following the outstanding feats recorded by the State contingent by emerging the best at the last International Arts and Crafts contest as well as second best in NAFEST in Jos last year, the National Council for Arts and Culture and the Federal Ministry of information, Culture and National Orientation agreed that Ekiti State should host NAFEST 2021.

Prof. Bakare hinted that no fewer than 75,000 guests and tourists from both foreign and domestic destinations would be in Ekiti State during the festival hence, the need for stakeholders and relevant agencies to lend support to ensure a successful outing.