Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has
assured of the state’s readiness to host a world-
class National Festival for Arts and Culture
(NAFEST) later in the year, to raise the profile of
the cultural expo.
Obaseki gave the assurance when he received a
delegation of management of the National Council
for Arts and Culture (NCAC), led by its Director
General, Otunba Segun Runsewe, in Government
House, Benin City, the state capital.
According to the governor, Edo State has huge
cultural assets to showcase to the world at the
festival, and noted that the agitation for the
repatriation of the over 6000 artefacts looted
during the Benin Expedition of 1897 was ongoing.
He commended the Runsewe-led NCAC for
repackaging the National Festival for Arts and
Culture, with new offerings that were on display
last year in Port Harcourt and charged the council
to explore the huge potential in the state’s eco-
tourism sector.
He tasked the council to lead the way in the
development of a world-class tourism master plan
that would drive tourist traffic to sites and
destinations across the country.
Obaseki told his guests that his administration
was committed to developing the culture and
tourism sector in the state, with ongoing work on
implementable plans to reposition the sector to
maximise its potential.
In his response, the NCAC DG said the essence of
his team’s visit was to convey a proposal of
innovative components billed to be introduced in
the 2019 edition of NAFEST as well as the
timeline for the various cultural events.
Runsewe congratulated the Obaseki-led
administration for winning the hosting right of the
festival, and promised that the event would
provide the state the opportunity to reinforce her
place on the world’s culture map.
He explained that one of the additions to the
festival is the Royalty Day, when all the states’
delegates will pay homage to the Oba of Benin,
Ewuare II.
He lauded Obaseki’s introduction of culture club
in schools as well as the culture information desk
at the Benin Airport, which he said would help
sell the state’s culture and tourist sites to
visitors.
Source: thenationonlineng.net/obaseki-promises-world-class-nafest/
