IN its bids to strengthening the creative capacity and widening the horizon of the arts and culture sector, the Ekiti State Council for Arts and Culture has inaugurated the first-ever Network of Ekiti State Creative Artists (NECA).
Inaugurating the association on Tuesday in his office, the Director-General, Ekiti State Council for Arts and Culture, Ambassador Wale Ojo-Lanre said the need for the inauguration of the association was borne out of the necessity to ensure the sustainability of the cultural policy of Governor Fayemi and also to ensure that the dividends of the policy are rooted with the main stakeholders who are the transmitters of the policy.
“It will amount to efforts in futility and mere grandstanding if all the strides of Governor Fayemi at rejuvenating and resuscitating the arts and culture sector of Ekiti state are not warehoused and rooted in the bowels of those who are the professional and change agents of the policy. This, it behoves the council to inaugurate this Network of Ekiti State Creative Artists today to serve as a platform of positive and proactive engagement between the public and private sectors of Arts and Culture.”
He called on Prince Caleb Osasona, who has been appointed as the interim President of NECA, to see his appointment as a calling to use his experience, exposure, knowledge and network for the building of a strong association that will reinforce and ensure the sustainability of the cultural reforms and heritage branding of Ekiti state.
According to Ojo–Lanre, “this inauguration today is a formal global notification of the existence of a platform for professional drivers of arts and culture in Ekiti State. You are appointed as an interim President based on your pedigree as a multitalented international artist, who is based in Europe and also maintains a conspicuous presence as a domestic art gallery owner in Ado, Abuja and Lagos. You are rightly framed to network Ekiti artists both at home and in Diaspora and galvanised them for the upswing development of this sector in Ekiti State.”
In his response, Prince Osasona, who was accompanied by some members of the association which included, Prince Abejide, Femi Adagunodo, Adebanji Asa, Lawanson Ismail, Abiodun Alade commended Governor Fayemi for his spectacular drive in the arts and culture sector describing him as “as a man who God specially sent back to Ekiti to salvage the state from perishing.
He promised to deliver on the objective and drive the vision of NECA beyond the imagination of the planter and ensure that the best of the association would be used for the upliftment of Ekiti State.
Prince Osasona said “I in conjunction with 7 5 members of the association now will not disappoint the trust in us as we shall ensure a purposeful network of all Ekiti born artists and galvanized them for the cultural glory of Ekiti State.”
