NAFEST 2010: Minister assures on security

The minister stated this at a press briefing   held in Abuja ahead of the forthcoming 24th edition of (NAFEST) 2010 festival scheduled to hold in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State   between 30th October-7th November. He noted that NIFEST has become a unifying platform for the various cultures of Nigeria and a veritable medium for creating ways […]

The minister stated this at a press briefing   held in Abuja ahead of the forthcoming 24th edition of (NAFEST) 2010 festival scheduled to hold in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State   between 30th October-7th November.

He noted that NIFEST has become a unifying platform for the various cultures of Nigeria and a veritable medium for creating ways in which culture could be used to contribute to the development of our nation.

He said that this year`s festival has been redesigned to bring to focus, the potentials of culture in our search for economic prosperity, social development, national re-orientation, integration, identity and sovereignty.

He added that this year`s theme is “Cultural Industries and Economic Empowerment”.

“NAFEST 2010 plans to refocus our attention to our unique and diverse cultural industries across the country with a view to harnessing and dovetailing such inherent resources in mitigating our developmental challenges. Towards this end, many events were initiated among which is a special project, designed to focus on the audio-visual documentation on DVD and physical exhibition of unique aspects of the nation’s cultural industries,” he said.

Alhaji Sadiq mentioned that the idea of NAFEST 2010 special project is to encourage   States and the FCT to begin the multi-media documentation of their cultural endowment with a view to increasing patronage of our crafts, arts and cultural potentials found in each state and local government areas.

Other events planned for the festival include the children’s composite presentation involving creative design sand solo music performance, food  fair competition, traditional  wrestling,  colloquium, book fair, and cultural market.

Also speaking, Executive Director of National Council For Arts and Culture (NCAC) Mr. M. M Maidugu, assured that preparations are in top gear to ensure the success of the event, adding   that the agency  has partnered  with the Akwa Ibom State government in all areas  to see that the event measures up to  standard, saying security and hotels have been adequately taken care of.