NAFEST has become a tool for economic growth – Minister

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said
the annual National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) has evolved
from being just an instrument of national unity to becoming a platform
to help boost the level of economic activities in the country

The Minister said this in Abuja on Thursday at a press conference to
herald the 2016 edition of the festival, to be held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom
State, 2-9 Oct, with the theme “Exploring the Goldmine Inherent in the
Nigerian Creative Industry”.

He said NAFEST, which was introduced in 1970 as a vehicle to foster
unity among the various sections of the country after the 30-month
civil war, would now be explored to contribute meaningfully to the
nation’s economy.

Alhaji said the new direction of the festival, which attracts
participants from the 36 states as well as the Federal Capital
Territory, is reflected in the theme of this year’s festival which, he
said, is geared towards using our various cultural products and
expressions to develop a creative economy and, at the same time,
promote the patronage of Made-in-Nigeria products.

“Indeed, festivals around the world are moving from just being a forum
to showcase arts and culture to becoming a tool for economic growth.
Creative industries are becoming creative economies. More and more
people are moving from manufacturing concerns to creative concerns,
and no country wants to be left behind. This is why this
Administration has included the creative industries, as well as
tourism, among the core areas for the diversification of the economy
away from oil,” he said.

The Minister, who commended the tremendous role played by NAFEST in
cementing the bond of unity among Nigerians, said the Festival still
remains very relevant to national cohesion and integration.

“Today, some 46 years after the civil war, the festival is more
relevant than ever. There is an urgent need to bring us closer
together as a people, amid widening divisions along ethnic, religious
and social lines. The fact that contingents from different parts of
the country come together annually, irrespective of their ethnicity or
religion, to showcase their arts and culture and leverage on their
comparative advantage is very healthy for our country,” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed disclosed that the government is collaborating with
local and international partners, including the British Council and
the Tony Elumelu Foundation, to enhance the capacity of festival
managers through training, in addition to mapping the various arts and
culture festivals across the country as part of the deliberate effort
to turn festivals into an economic entity.

He commended the organizers of NAFEST for outlining various activities
such as the Indigenous Poetry Performance (Children Participation),
Drama, Arts and Crafts Competition, Essay Writing as well as Drawing
and Painting Competitions, indigenous Cuisines and Traditional
Wrestling to further enhance the quality and uniqueness of this year’s
festival.

On her part, Mrs. Dayo Keshi, the Director General of the organizers
National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), said NAFEST has a
peculiar characteristic of focusing on indigenous cultures and
heritages, with a view to creating a multiplier effect on income
generated at the grass roots.

She said a special feature of this year’s NAFEST is a colloquium to
brainstorm on how to make the festival a contributor to the nation’s
GDP.