Ekiti State has emerged as the overall winner of the 2021 National Festival of Arts and Culture with States like Rivers, Bayelsa, Benue and others coming behind at the keenly contested events and competitions held and hosted in Ado Ekiti by the Ekiti State Government.
Announcing the final results on Saturday at the Ekiti Parapo Pavillon in Ado Ekiti, the officials of the 34th edition of the National Festival of Arts and Culture declared Ekiti State as the overall winner with Rivers State coming second.
For the Traditional Cuisine Competition, Rivers State came first, Nasarawa State was second, Ekiti and Delta States took the third position while Bayelsa and Imo States got the fourth and fifth position respectively.
Ekiti State carried the day in the Children’s Essay Writing Competition with Benue State coming second, Gombe State came third while Nasarawa and Lagos took the fourth and fifth positions respectfully.
Again, Ekiti State won the Children’s Arts and Crafts Competition with Lagos and Ogun States coming second and third. Benue and the FCT in Abuja also takes up the fourth and fifth positions.
In the Archery Competition, Nasarawa State was declared as the winner while Ekiti State came second with Borno State coming third. Both Kaduna and Rivers States took the fourth position.
Declaring the event closed, the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi stated that the weeklong event would ever remain memorable in the minds of the people of the State and the country at large. He added that the colourful event was a display of the rich cultural heritage of the people of Nigeria demonstrated with much splendor, excellence and rich artistic wealth of the country and explored by the competitors.
The Governor added that the country was the actual winner of the competition for being able to demonstrate to the world that there is unity in diversity.
Commending the 30 States and the FCT that participated in the competition, the Governor of Ekiti stressed that NAFEST has announced to the world that Nigeria, though different in tribes and tongue, stands out in brotherhood.
Addressing the contingents at the closing ceremony, the Director General, National Council of Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Olusegun Runsewe expressed appreciation to the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi for his warm reception and his wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi who ensured an event involving women and children were introduced for the first time into NAFEST. Otunba Runsewe used the opportunity to announce Lagos State as the next Host for the 2022 edition of the National Festival of Arts and Culture.
In his own remarks, the Commissioner in the Ekiti State Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism, Professor Rasaki Ojo Bakare thanked the officials of his Ministry who worked day and night to ensure the success of the event. He equally thanked the Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and his amiable wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi who also ensured that adequate logistics were made for the hosting of the 34th edition of the National Festival of Arts and Culture in the state.
Packaged by Emmanuel Adeniran
