Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) Chief Olusegun Runsewe, has expressed satisfaction with the preparations of the Lagos state Government to host the 35th Edition of the National Festival for Arts and Culture tagged Eko NAFEST 2022 scheduled to hold from 7th to 13th November 2022.
According to him, the efforts of the state Government to renovate the structures at the National Stadium is one that can best be described as laudable. He was speaking recently during a media tour of the National Stadium, the venue for the forthcoming festival tagged “Eko NAFEST”.
He said going by the level of preparation toward the festival, Lagos State had so far laid beautiful precedence for other states in trying to host subsequent editions of the festival.
According to him, the state has been able to rebrand various sites within the National Stadium where some aspects of the festival will hold.
Runsewe said the state had made provisions for conducive accommodation, toilet facilities, waste disposal, medical centres, ambulance services and more.
He noted that in the history of NAFEST, no state had been able to prepare this much within a short time, over the years.
”This entire edifice here in National Stadium has been abandoned over 25 years now and here we are, Gov. Sanwo-Olu has renovated and rebranded it for the purpose of the festival.
“When I was invited to visit the facilities for the 35th NAFEST, I thought it was a joke but couldn’t believe that such kinds of facilities exist in Lagos State.
“From the history of NAFEST, this is an upgrade to the standard of facilities we have been exposed to, for me, Lagos state is ready to host the federation.
“Before now, we rarely have a venue for the cultural market, we got it and several other things, Lagos is indeed setting a beautiful pace for other states to follow,” he said.
Runsewe also expressed his satisfaction with the accommodation arrangements put in place by the Government as it features such as with free wifi services both rrevellers and exhibitors.
According to him, the state remains well organised in its planning process as each of the accommodation halls is labelled according to the brands of individual states coming for the event.
He urged other states coveting the hosting right for the festival to take a clue from Lagos state.
