Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi on Saturday lamented youths’ indifference and low-level participation in the promotion of traditional and cultural activities, urging them to be conscious of the socio-economic benefits of their involvements in promotion of cultural heritages in the state.
The governor, through his Director General, Council for Arts and Culture, Ambassador Wale Ojo Lanre, gave this urge while addressing newsmen at the grand finale of Ladunwo Festival in Oke-Mesi.
Ojo Lanre noted that the involvement of youths in traditional and cultural activities is not encouraging and promised to initiate programmes and ideas that will boost their morale in creative industry and harness the economic potentials.
“Lack of interest in cultural activities is one of the side effect of globalization but we are going to change the narration by engaging them in a way that will be more beneficial and encouraging
“One of the cardinal point of Dr Kayode Fayemi administration in Ekiti state is restoring the value through promotion of traditional and cultural identity and great virtue of Ekiti state and that is exactly why we are calling on everybody to be involved for a greater and better future”, he submitted.
The Chief Cultural Officer of the state continued, “the state is also ready to support youths in the creative industry with a view of discovering more talents and create jobs in the state”
While Speaking on the Ladunwo festival organized by Okemesi Cultural Heritage Promotion, Ojo Lanre said the event is one of the traditional functions that attracts government attention because of its relevant not only to Oke-Mesi history but to Yoruba at large
“This is a well packaged programme, you can see hundreds of masquerades and other cultural activities going on, there is no violent and everybody is in the joyous mood, I am sure by next edition, there will be improvement and increase in the number of sponsors and participants, number of local and foreign tourists would increase and the economy of the hosting communities and the state would be affected positively”, Ojo Lanre added.
Also speaking at the event, the Chairman, Organizing Committee, Prince Kayode Oni, said the triennial event is a celebration of an ancestral masquerades known to be an agent of peace and progress in the town.
Oni stressed, “we do have masquerade festival annually but Ladunwo is triennial because that is the tradition and we are happy with the development, we hope there would be improvement in the subsequent edition” .
