Lagos state Commissioner of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Uzmat Akinbile Yusuf, says preparations for the 35th edition of National Festival of Arts and Culture, dubbed Eko Nafest has reached 99 percent , appreciating governor Babajide sanwo-0lu for moral and financial support towards successful hosting of iconic festival in November.
From security, transportation, accommodation and sundry logistics commitments, Akinbile disclosed that the military precision approach and deployment to fully ensure a hitch event, and showcasing the diversity Nigerian culture tourism and in particular, the signature outing of Eyo masquerade , is top notch, giving kodus to Otunba Segun Runsewe, Director General of National Council for Arts and Culture, for providing the platform of guidance and expertise to flourish all preparation efforts.
” we are excited and can’t wait to welcome Nigerians from all works of life to our city of aquatic splendour and excellence. We shall more than bring glamour to this iconic festival, with a special outing of Eyo masquerade and believe me, the opening ceremony slated for 0nikan stadium, will unveil the full entrainment entrapment ever seen anywhere” the commissioner explained.
Speaking at the sidelines of the meeting of the National planning Committee for the festival, held at National Institute for Sports, National stadium in Surulere, on Thursday, Mrs uzmat Akinbile Yusuf who got positive nodding of her team of tourism officials, assured that lagos, will make a significant difference never before to Nafest, which lagos last held in 1988.
Around to furher pledge strategic administrative back up to the festival, slated for NIS, National stadium, Mrs oyinade Nathan- Mash, Permanent Secretary , lagos state Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, disclosed the infusion and blend of creative deployment of logistics and security, will premium the iconic festival, to all stakeholders and including the 35 states Culture contingents expected during the November, 7th to 13th event.
” we couldn’t get thus far without the guidance of our own Otunba Segun Runsewe. The Nigerian unification and peaceful process, will no doubt, be a significant difference and to our governor, Babajide sanwo-0lu , who has has made lagos a home to all Nigerians irrespective of tongues and tribe, so Eko Nafest, will be more than exciting, even our long stretch of traffic build ups, a sign of prosperity, will be given desired positve interpretation” admirable and cerebral Mrs Mash explained.
Olatunji Seymour, Senior Special Assistant to governor sanwo-0lu on Tourism, poured out a heartful passionate endorsement of preparations for the festival, nothing lagos will be on World stage throughout festival, and crediting otunba Runsewe for Creative ingenuity in driving the iniative.
To Solomon Bonu, the former Special Adviser, Tourism to governor Babajide sanwo-0lu, Eko Nafest, will further confirm that lagos state, provides a save haven to all Nigerians as a” mini Nigeria”, adding every Nigerian family has a person in lagos, hence the need for a special status for lagos in the developmental policies of the federal government.
Saanu Solomon Bonu, now the state assembly representative from Badagry in next year’s elections, positioned the new look of the NIS facilities, venue of the iconic festival, by Governor Babajide sanwo-0lu as a strategic swing to desires of the state government, to request and plead with the federal government to hand over all abandoned federal infrastructures to lagos, and also conferring special status to this beneficial opportunities.
” Eko Nafest means a lot to us, as a unifer of all Nigerians, as Special status destination and from what governor Babajide sanwo-0lu has done to these abandoned facilities here at NIS, giving it an admirable face-lift and renewal, there is no doubt, lagos can well do more to help reactivate lots of edifices left to rot when the seat of government moved out of lagos. We are more than ready and for whatever it’s worth, Eko Nafest, will make a new statement in the cultural tourism history of Nigeria” .
