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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”
Former Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Adeolu Akande, has extended warm felicitations to Barrister Sarafadeen Ali, the Senator representing Oyo South Senatorial district, on the occasion of his 61st birthday.
In a statement released on Saturday in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, on Saturday, Akande lauded the lawmaker, describing him as a luminary whose life has been marked by distinguished service to the nation.
“Today, I join the world in celebrating you on your special day, as you mark 61 years of God’s abundant love and glorious impact on humanity,” the former NCC gaffer expressed.
He added, “I wish you many more years of God’s grace in your life.”
The headquarters of Heritage Bank at Victoria Island, Lagos, was besieged on Thursday by members of the labour union, protesting the recent dismissal of 1,000 support workers.
The National President of the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees, Comrade Anthony Abakpa, led the demonstration, condemning the bank’s management for what he deemed a lack of adherence to due process in the termination of employment contracts.
Speaking during the protest, Comrade Abakpa asserted that the leadership of Heritage Bank failed to follow established protocols before executing the mass layoffs.
He emphasised the union’s commitment to pursuing justice for the affected workers, vowing to escalate their demands until the bank’s management rectifies the situation.
“We will intensify our demands for justice,” declared Comrade Abakpa, urging the bank’s management to take corrective action to address the grievances of the dismissed workers.
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, clarified that Nigeria is not utilising its foreign reserves to bolster the naira, despite recent fluctuations in reserve levels.
Speaking from Washington DC, where he is attending the International Monetary Fund-World Bank Spring Meetings, Cardoso highlighted the influx of $600 million into Nigeria’s reserves account within the past two days.
While the naira has experienced a notable appreciation against the dollar in recent weeks, climbing over 40% from approximately N1,900/$ to about N1,000/$1, Nigeria’s foreign reserves have been dwindling. As of April 15, reserves dropped to approximately $32.29 billion, marking the lowest level in over six years.
Cardoso emphasised that the shifts in reserves are typical for any country, where various financial obligations, such as debt repayments, necessitate withdrawals.
He stated, “What you’ve seen with respect to the shift in our reserves is normal in any country’s reserves where, for example, debts are due and certain payments need to be made. They are made because that is also part of keeping your credibility.”
Continuing, Cardoso underscored the dynamic nature of the market, advocating for a system driven by willing buyers, willing sellers, and price discovery.
He emphasised, “The shift in our reserves has really little or nothing to do with defending the naira, and that is certainly not our objective.”
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