2021 Nafest – Rivers State has won the overall second position at the just concluded 34th edition of the National Festival of Arts and Culture.
The event took place at Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, with the theme: “Celebrating National Unity In Diversity”.
The event, which ended at the weekend, saw Ekiti State coming first, Rivers second, while Bayelsa came Third.
Rivers State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mrs. Tonye Briggs-Oniyide said she was happy with the wonderful performance of the state’s contingent at the event.
Oniyide said the festival has brought to the fore, the role of culture in national peace and harmony.
According to her, NAFEST has provided a platform for Nigerians from different ethnic backgrounds and tribes, religions, political and cultural affiliations to unite together as one country.
Oniyide expressed gratitude to the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, for making the participation of the state in the NAFEST 2021, possible, noting that the 2018 NAFEST, hosted by Rivers State, stands out as the best organized in Nigeria.
She maintained that Rivers State has performed credibly in all the events despite the 2nd position, adding that the contingent presented the state’s diverse artistic and cultural endowments.
Earlier in his speech, the Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe said NAFEST was a post-civil war cultural initiative by the General Yakubu Gowon administration as a means of healing the wounds and inter-ethnic bitterness occasioned by the war.
The DC noted that each of the 33editions of the NAFEST has continued to respond to the question of national unity and diversity.
Pointing out that the spirit of NAFEST would strengthen the nation’s unity in diversity, he added that it would also foster national integration, engender patriotism and national cooperation.
No fewer than 30 states and FCT participated in the 2021 Ekiti NAFEST competition in various events: Children tales by the moonlight, drama competition, traditional bound game, children drawing/painting, essay writing, traditional cuisines, archery, indigenous fabric, and fashion designing, and children storytelling and puppetry competitions.
Rivers State won four gold trophies in traditional cuisine; children’s essay writing, children’s storytelling, and indigenous fabric and fashion designing, and two bronze trophies in drama.
