NANFeatures/Vol.10/No.226/2016 (Sept. 23)
NAFEST 2016: Boosting Nigerian economy via innovations
By Jacinta Nwachukwu, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
“Exploring the goldmine inherent in Nigeria’s creative industries’’ is the theme of the next edition of the National Festival for Arts and Culture (NAFEST) expected to hold in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, from Oct. 2 to Oct. 9.
The festival is held annually and rotated among all states in Nigeria for the purpose of promoting the country’s arts and culture as a viable platform for generating revenue.
NAFEST was established in 1970 after the end of Nigeria’s civil war to foster national unity, coordinate, preserve, promote and present the very best of the country’s arts and culture, among others mandates.
Analysts opine that the festival, organised annually by the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), has grown into a worthy celebration of Nigeria’s unity in diversity.
According to them, year’s theme could not have come at a better time as the country is trying to diversify the economy.
They also note that during the festival, Nigeria’s cultural heritage is reflected through various competitive and non-competitive events.
The events include music and dance, traditional wrestling, moonlight games for children, dramas, exhibitions of books, herbs, food, and arts and crafts, among others.
Participants at NAFEST are traditionally drawn from the 36 states of the federation and the FCT, other government agencies, academia, cultural non-governmental organisations and relevant stakeholders in the sector.
Explaining the expectations from the next edition of the programme, Mrs Dayo Keshi, the Director-General of NCAC, said NAFEST had been repositioned to boost Nigeria’s economy.
According to her, the festival has its programmes “dedicated to the development and promotion of the best of the living arts and cultures of Nigeria, using it as resources for national integration and unity as well as to serve as catalyst for sustainable growth and development of the nation.
“It is one of the major cultural festivals that serve as great platforms for mobilising stakeholders in the arts and culture industry at which they interact, showcase talents and project the values of our heritage as well as develop the spirit of national identity and peaceful co-existence.
“The National Council for Arts and Culture is positioned more than ever before to deploy its diverse and rich arts and culture resources to be a spring board and an instrument for promoting national unity, national integration and an avenue for economic empowerment.
Keshi said the festival had become one of the most competitive events in Nigeria, affirming that the event was the oldest national festival with representatives from the 36 states and the FCT.
“It provides a formidable platform in the bottom-up approach to wealth creation as most of the participants are drawn from the grassroots of each local government in the states.
“It is a key in showcasing the economic strength of festivals as it provides a large inflow of participants, tourists filling up hotels, increased transport, thereby making it a veritable tool in the diversification of our economy,’’ she said.
She insisted that “the festival is capable of generating revenue for the ministry as well as boosting economic activities in the country.
“A sachet water vendor who normally makes N1, 000 daily can earn N10, 000 daily during the national festival.’’
She also said that the event would feature competitions for children in indigenous poetry and drawing and painting, cultural drama and indigenous furnished apartment competition, among others.
“Children are a key component of NAFEST, giving them a keen sense of creativity as they participate in the competitive presentation of their paintings and dances,’’ she said.
The director-general, therefore, charged all the stakeholders in the culture sector to find ways of improving on the presentation and marketing of existing festivals while inventing new ones.
In his opinion, the Deputy Governor of Akwa-Ibom, Mr Moses Ekpo, solicited massive cultural revival through strategic acculturation.
He further stressed the need for brainstorming and strategising on how to re-position Nigeria’s culture to attract global patronage as a major foreign exchange earner for the country.
He observed that Nigeria could become a global power in culture as well as a major exporter of culture with the right mix of resources and tourism integration.
Stakeholders in the culture industry have, nonetheless, called for proactive methods of moving the festival forward.
They note that it is necessary to introduce innovations and creativity in designing, packaging and interpretation of the syllabus contents.
According to them, Nigeria has a comparative advantage in the cultural global market and Nigerians should take its advantage and explore it.
By and large, as the festival is holding soon, observers have advised stakeholders in the culture industry to explore the option of partnering with corporate and private investors to organise a successful, economically viable and glamorous NAFEST 2016.(NANFeatures)
**If used, please credit the writer as well as News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)