THE Central Planning Committee of Ekiti State Cultural Festival (EKIFEST) has unveiled the activities lined up for the 2019 edition of the festival.
EKIFEST 2019 is slated to hold between the 11th and 13th of December, 2019 with the theme “Arts and Culture: Tools for Restoration of Values and Socio-Economic Empowerment.”
The Festival Consultant, Professor Rasaki Bakare while addressing an international press conference at the NUJ Press Centre, Ado Ekiti on Monday said the event will commence on 10th December.
According to him, “a pre-EKIFEST programme has been scheduled as the kiddies programme and it will witness the engagement of children from selected schools across Ekiti State.
“We have provided a platform to educate our children to imbibe our qualitative cultural attributes. Children should also be allowed to grow our culture through the promotion of the virtues of Omoluabi. Therefore, a pre-EKIFEST programme has been scheduled as the kiddies programme and it will witness the engagement of children from selected schools across Ekiti State.”
Other activities lined up for the programme include: Local Government Arts Exhibition/cuisine/bush bar completion, traditional poetry, freestyle carnival, Traditional Games and Sports, Fun ride to Ikogosi Warm Spring , Colloquium/workshop[, Ekiti Cultureprenuer, Kegites Gyration, Taste of Ekiti, Ekiti dress fashion show and command performance Ifajuyigbe ( A stage play) heritage carnival parade, and musical concert by both guest and local artiste.
Ojo Bakare maintained that “It is necessary at this point to state clearly that EKIFEST is not an exhibition of fetish or idolatry practices but an economic and social strategy, It is a way to celebrate and promote the State as a unique citadel of cultural values and tradition which should not be only enhanced for this generation but preserved for many more yet unborn.”
“We want to let the world know that Ekiti State is blessed with a lot of potentials both natural and cultural. EKIFEST 2019 is going to be a unique experience” He added that We want to host the world and give our visitors a taste of our hospitality, our tasty traditional cuisine and our hygienic waters. Our friendly weather, awesome hills, opulent vegetation and health-giving breeze are part of the products we are selling to the world.
Dignitaries expected at the events include South West Governors and their counterpart from Benin, Delta, Kwara and others, Minister of Information Culture and Tourism Alhaji Lai Muhammed, Director-General National Council for Arts and Culture and Director-General Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC).
In his remark, the Director-General Ekiti State Council for Arts and Culture Amb Wale Ojo-Lanre said the festival is designed to showcase talents, potentials and Arts in Ekiti.
“We are moving Arts and Culture from mere entertainment to economic development and income generation for Ekiti state. We are ready to host the word, already over 20,000 people have signified their interest to be part of the event and we are expecting more,” Ojo-Lanre said.
