Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki says the annual National Festival for Arts and Culture (NAFEST) has lived up to the noble objectives for which it was created, including deepening unity among Nigerians.
Obaseki said this last week at a reception organised for the director-general of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Segun Runsewe and the directors of culture of over 30 states of Nigeria.
The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Philip Shaibu, noted, “NAFEST has continued to foster greater unity among Nigerians through its numerous artistic and cultural offerings.”
He explained that with unity, Nigeria as a country can attain any heights, and assured that Edo State was upbeat about hosting a colourful NAFEST come October this year.
Earlier at the Oba Palace, the Benin Monarch, His Royal Majesty Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, pledged the support of the palace for the festival and extolled the NCAC director-general, Runsewe.
Nigeria needs great minds like Runsewe who are passionate about the promotion of the country’s rich and diverse cultures and expressed his delight at the choice of Benin as host of the next edition of the National Festival for Arts and Culture slated for October, the monarch said.
In his address, Runsewe hailed the Oba whose impressive antecedents as Nigeria’s ambassador ensured the restoration of peace to Angola among other noble achievements.
The NCAC boss intimated that at least three million people from around the world would be in Benin City for NAFEST, including exhibitors, art collectors, culture enthusiasts and other stakeholders.
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