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Ekiti Cultural Festival Holds December
Ekiti state governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has said that the state would resume the hosting of Ekiti State Festival of Arts and Culture ,(EKIFEST) ,in December 2019.
Governor Fayemi also revealed the determination of the state to inaugurate and establish Arts and Craft Village in Ado Ekiti with cluster outlets in some communities across the state.
Ekiti State Festival of Arts and Culture ( EKIFEST) is an annual event initiated in 2012 by the Fayemi led administration to showcase Ekiti cultural heritage , discover talents and use arts and culture for economic development.
The one week event will also create avenue for thousands of tourists from local and international communities to explore the tourism potentialities of the state.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of Ekiti State Council for Arts and Culture Stakeholders’ Forum on Monday, the governor who was represented by Head of Service, Hon Deji Ajayi said “We are going to organise Ekiti State Festival of Arts and Culture in December this year to enhance our capacities in crafts, dancing, weaving and other vocational areas of arts.
” We should not forget to teach our children those values that will make Ekiti to remember their heritage and sustain our culture as a people”.
Also speaking at the event, the chairperson of the event, Erelu Bisi Fayemi noted that activities in the culture and Arts sector nosedived in the last four years when her husband, Dr Kayode Fayemi went on sabbatical.
“The Arts and culture industry is one of the area through which we believe we identify and develop talents and create opportunities for our teeming youths in the creative industry “.
While pledging her continuous support for creative industry in the state, Erelu Fayemi urged the stakeholders in the sector to collaborate with the government particularly the Council for Arts and Culture in the state for the development of the sector.
The Director General of the Ekiti State Council for Arts and Culture, Mr. Wale Ojo Lanre, assured that the government was committed to the promotion of all cultural festivals in the state to empower the people for economic gains.
” We are also going to partner Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) , National Council for Arts and Culture and other national and international bodies to promote our arts and culture in Ekiti. Some of them will be enlisted as national festivals .
“We are also going to engage creative arts entrepreneurs and accomplished artistes of Ekiti origin to mentor our budding stars.
”All these are what Governor Kayode Fayemi is ready to do to promote our arts and culture industry and make it a force that can generate revenue for individuals and the state”, he said.
Guest speakers, including Professor Ishola Olomola, Professor Rasaki Bakare, and Dr Mike Adeoye in their presentations harped on the need for consistency, sustainability and working with passion
Prof Bakare also called for collaborative efforts among various associations of professionals to pursue a common goal and economic benefit.
“You must be humbled to work with those who are not as high as you re and be humble to work with those who are higher than you so as to create a market and formidable structure that would enhance empowerment and economic development”
US car giant Ford on Wednesday announced 4,000 more job cuts in Europe, mostly in Germany and Britain, in the latest blow to the continent’s beleaguered car industry.
“The company has incurred significant losses in recent years,” Ford said in a statement, blaming “the industry shift to electrified vehicles and new competition”.
The move will affect 2,900 jobs in Germany, 800 in the UK and 300 in western Europe by the end of 2027, a Ford spokesman told AFP.
“It is critical to take difficult but decisive action to ensure Ford’s future competitiveness in Europe,” said Dave Johnston, Ford’s European vice-president in the statement.
The company also said it was adjusting the production of its Explorer and Capri models, resulting in reduced hours at its Cologne plant in the first quarter of 2025.
Europe’s car industry has been plunged into crisis by high manufacturing costs, a stuttering switch to electric vehicles and increased competition in key market China.
Germany’s Volkswagen has been among those hardest hit, announcing in September that it was considering the unprecedented move of closing some factories in Germany.
“The European automotive industry is in a very demanding and serious situation,” Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume said at the time.
Ford had already announced in February 2023 that it was planning to cut 3,800 jobs in Europe, including 2,300 in Germany and 1,300 in Britain.
The company said then it was planning to reduce the number of models developed for Europe, concentrate on the profitable van segment and speed up the transition to electric vehicles.
Ford currently has around 28,000 employees in Europe with 15,000 in Germany, according to the company’s works council.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the dissolution of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State, and the removal of the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh, and Registrar, Mrs. Rosemary Ifoema Nwokike.
The council, chaired by Ambassador Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe, comprised five other members: Hafiz Oladejo, Augustine Onyedebelu, Engr. Amioleran Osahon, and Rtd. Gen. Funsho Oyeneyin.
A statement released on Wednesday by presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, revealed that the council was dissolved following reports of procedural violations in appointing the vice-chancellor.
According to the statement, the council had allegedly appointed an unqualified candidate, disregarding due process, which triggered tensions between the university’s Senate and the council.
The Federal Government expressed dismay over the council’s actions, emphasizing the need for adherence to the university’s governing laws in decision-making.
“The council’s disregard for established rules necessitated the government’s intervention to restore order to the 33-year-old institution,” the statement noted.
In a related development, President Tinubu also approved the dismissal of Engr. Ohieku Muhammed Salami, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State.
Salami was accused of suspending the university’s Vice-Chancellor without following the prescribed procedures, a move the Federal Ministry of Education had previously directed him to reverse.
Despite the Ministry’s directives, Salami reportedly refused to comply and resorted to issuing threats and abusive remarks towards the Ministry’s officials, including the Permanent Secretary.
The Federal Government reiterated that the primary role of university councils is to ensure the smooth operation of academic activities, strictly adhering to the laws establishing each institution.
Tinubu warned university councils against engaging in actions that could destabilize their institutions, as his administration remains committed to enhancing the nation’s education system.
The Ekiti State Government has reached an agreement with labour leaders in the state, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the payment of the N70,000 minimum wage approved by the Federal Government.
Addressing journalists at a brief ceremony in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday, the Head of Service (HoS), Dr. Folakemi Olomojobi, announced that the payment would commence immediately.
She lauded Governor Biodun Oyebanji for prioritizing the welfare of workers despite the state’s limited resources.
“This development demonstrates the governor’s commitment to improving the livelihood of our workers,” Dr. Olomojobi stated, highlighting the proactive measures taken by the administration to ensure prompt implementation.
In their remarks, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Chairman, Comrade Sola Adigun, and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Chairman, Comrade Olatunde Kolapo, expressed their appreciation to Governor Oyebanji for fulfilling his promises to workers.
They confirmed that the new minimum wage would apply to all cadres, including employees in ministries, parastatals, agencies, and pensioners.
The Chairman of the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC), Comrade Femi Ajoloko, described the implementation as a fair and commendable adjustment.
“This decision reflects the governor’s magnanimity and his dedication to fostering a productive workforce in Ekiti State,” he said.
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