The First Lady of Ekiti State, Erelu Bisi Fayemi has called for preservation and promotion of Ekiti Culture, Arts and Tourism for sustaining the economic growth of the state.
Mrs. Fayemi made the call while addressing participants at the opening ceremony of the 2019 Ekiti State Festival of Arts and culture (EKIFEST) held in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State Capital.
The First Lady expressed the optimism that promotion of Arts and culture would provide opportunities for a large number of unemployed youths to tackle poverty and alleged suffering of Ekiti citizens.
Mrs. Fayemi, who took the august gathering down the memory lane on how the idea of Ekiti State flagship festival was conceived during the first term of office of the Kayode Fayemi-led administration, expressed regret that the idea was aborted by the immediate passed government in the state.
A 50 person committee called the Technical Consultative committee on culture, Arts and Tourism was set up.
People from different callings in the Arts and Culture sector assembled to brainstorm and came up with a blue print on the preservation and promotion of Ekiti Culture, Arts and Tourism with a view to sustaining the economic growth of the state.
“One of the recommendations was that the state should have a flagship festival to celebrate the rich culture of Ekiti people and showcase the local arts and crafts and other creative endeavours, but was truncated by change in government”, she said.
Erelu Fayemi noted that the current administration in the state acknowledged the importance of culture in the socio-economic growth of the society, while expressing the determination of the Fayemi-led administration at relaunching all that had been lost since 2013.
The First Lady pointed out that the 2019 EKIFEST was designed towards the restoration of Ekiti core values as a people as well as empowerment against the scourge of poverty.
According to her, culture will be a viable solution to several problems bedevilling the state as part of the state culture is to be diligent, honest and peace loving, adding that Ekiti culture goes against the shirking of responsibility, lies and laziness. “If every man would respect our culture, no man would abandon his family at the risk of allowing any of them constitute a menace to the society, “she said.
The First Lady however lauded the state government for initiating the programme, while appreciating the presence of the participants from across the state and the south west region who have come to grace the occasion.
Among the dignitaries present are comrade Tar Ukoh, The Artistic Director of the National Troupe of Nigeria and some of the Yoruba Nollywood artists.
Packaged by Emmanuel Adeniran
