There was inexpressible joy and excitement at Benin City as the troupes of the Rivers State Council for Arts and Culture on Saturday, October 26, 2019 emerged overall winners at the just concluded National Festival for Arts and Culture (NAFEST), Edo 2019.
Speaking to National Network, Dr. Charles Ejima, the executive Director of Rivers State Council for Arts and Culture, expressed joy over the back to back wining of the trophy, noting that the victory was as a result of early preparation made possible by the state government.
Giving an insight into the essence of NAFEST, Dr. Ejima said it is an event to showcase Nigeria’s rich cultural potentials in dance, drama and art work, as well as the unity of the country.
He stressed the importance of culture in nation building, adding that NAFEST enabled the younger generation to know their background to be able to dress well from tender age.
His words: “We are emboldened to say that culture represents the passed-down and learnt values of great antiquity and our capacity to adopt and fit ourselves into the world civilization without losing the intrinsic values of our heritage, that is what NAFEST stands for.
According to him, the adoption of the western culture has done more harm than good, regretting that western civilization has made prostitution a profession while making criminals celebrities whereas the African Culture forbids that.
He pointed out that the yearly NAFEST would proffer alternative paths towards restoring the declined customs and traditions of the people while urging corporate bodies and other government agencies to strive hard to promote, propagate and preserved the rich culture of Nigeria and language globally and as well, create avenue for youth self employment.
Dr. Ejima also commended the delegates that put in their total efforts to ensure that the trophy was returned to the state, despite the challenges they went through in area of accommodation. He lamented that the delegates were kept in a bedbugs infested area by the Edo State government.
