THE 37th meeting of Chief Executives of Culture of the Federation ended recently in Minna, Niger State capital with emphasis on repositioning the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) as hunting ground for talents in cultural and creative arts.The bi-annual gathering, coordinated by the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), attracted chief executives of culture from the 36 states' Art Councils, History and Culture Bureau as well as the Federal Capital Territory.Also in attendance were heads of various Parastatals in the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, including the Executive Secretary, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Dr. Barclays Ayakoroma, Director-General, National Gallery of Art, Mr. Muku Abdullahi and the Managing Director, National Troupe of Nigeria, Mr. Martins Adaji. Other chief executives were represented by heads of departments.The two-day event was declared open by Niger State Governor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, who urged culture ambassadors to double as peace vanguards through various means of communication.Represented by the state's Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Abubakar Garba Mohammed, Aliyu stressed that no meaningful development could take place in an atmosphere of chaos and anarchy. He, therefore, tasked chief executives of culture to emerge with useful suggestions that would promote peaceful co-existence in the country.He said, 'Our culture preaches peace and love for our neighbours. It is in respect to this that I urge us all to be peace vanguards through the various means of communication so as to safe-guide our beloved country since no meaningful development can take place in an atmosphere of chaos or anarchy.'On the state's effort at promoting and preserving its culture and tourism potentials, Aliyu said preparations were underway towards organising the first edition of Niger State Festival of Arts and Culture (Nigerfest) this year.Although no date has been fixed yet for the festival, the governor maintained that it would serve as a platform to hunt for talents for other national outings holding later in the year.'I wish to direct that the local government chairmen continue to give needed support to cultural officers and make the first Nigerfest a success,' he stated.IN his remarks, the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Mr. M.M. Maidugu, hinted that the technical session would focus on how cultural programmes and activities could address the nation's socio-economic needs.His words: 'Our primary consideration should be on how to showcase our culture towards promoting peace and national unity. Similarly, we should also focus on tapping the economic potentials of the hidden treasures of our cultural heritage.'Maidugu also commended the people and government of Niger State for accepting to host the meeting. He described Governor Aliyu as a lover of arts and culture, who was always willing to support and promote events that were geared towards cultural development. He added that the choice of Minna as venue for the meeting was motivated by Governor Aliyu's interest in cultural activities.He noted, 'We had wanted a state that has the facilities and had in the past, been receptive to cultural events and activities and you will agree with me that Niger State met these requirements. The governor is a lover of arts and culture and has promoted the state's Council for Arts and Culture to enviable level. He also hosted the 2009 edition of NAFEST and set a record, which up till today, is yet to be beaten. So, coming here is to further encourage the state to key in into other national events of arts and culture that are coming up later in the year.'At the technical session, a total of six memos were presented by NCAC with emphasis on 2012 editions of National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) as well as the African Arts and Crafts Expo (AFAC).With Culture, Peace and Economic Empowerment as theme for this year's NAFEST, Maidugu said entries would be critically analysed to ensure they were in line with the focus of the syllabus, which include promotion of peace and national unity as well as unveiling economic potentials of the festival.He argued, 'So, NAFEST 2012 has to satisfy two major parts. One, it must be at the forefront of promoting national peace and unity and secondly, it must come up with elements that ensure the entries could be packaged appropriately for presentation at NAFEST and for onward marketing at local and international levels'.The NCAC boss insisted that in interpreting the syllabus, creativity and innovation should be considered with a view to introducing new ideas and outlook to the festival.THE syllabus comprised six competitive events and five non-competitive events. They include traditional moonlight games, children's essay writing competition, children's drawing and painting as well as dance drama (stage and DVD presentation).Others are traditional furnishing of apartment and traditional wrestling competitions. Meanwhile, non-competitive events include the NAFEST colloquium, cultural book and food fair as well as craft market. The essence of the various children's event incorporated into the syllabus, Maidugu noted, was to inculcate cultural values in the minds of the young ones.Earlier, participants at the meeting critically reviewed the various segments of NAFEST with a view to finding common ground for strengthening the programme against factors that threaten its existence and sustenance.Highlighting the issue of competitive events, culture ambassadors expressed concern that emphasis on competition was gradually diverting participants' interest from the original concept of promoting arts and culture as well as encouraging peaceful coexistence to struggling for prizes.It could be recalled that in the recent years, Nasarawa was adjudged the overall best at both NAFEST and Abuja Carnival for four consecutive years.The state's outstanding performance was credited to the repositioning of its culture sector embarked by the state's former governor, Alhaji Aliyu Akwe Doma, through proper funding. Aside impressive cultural performances always put up by the cultural troupe, artists were also remarkable for appearing in most colourful and elaborate costumes with the largest number of contingents at every national outing.At NAFEST 2010 held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, some artists working with Kaduna State's Art Council, who could not make the state's list to the festival due to lack of fund, were hired by Nasarawa State to further beef up its contingent.Unfortunately, other states, which only managed to attend such events due to governments' apathy to culture, were beginning to feel relegated and called for a review of competitive events. According to them, repeated poor outings worsen their chances of getting financial support from their governors.Movers of such motion also recalled instances in the past, where issues of competition had created strife among participating states. They opined that removal of competition would be instrumental to boosting peace and harmony, which the festival aims to achieve.Considering the short gap between NAFEST and Abuja Carnival, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation was urged to consider bringing NAFEST forward with effect from next year to allow for adequate preparation.To improve on states' participation at national events, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation was charged to use his office to market the sector, not only to his colleagues in the Cabinet but also to state governors by enlightening them on the relevance of culture to development.Maidugu promised to address the issue of competition, not by removing it from the syllabus but by increasing the number of categories to give room for more winners.MEANWHILE, Kwara State has officially been given the hosting right for NAFEST 2012, which is slated for October. It was among the three states that bidded for the hosting in Calabar, Cross River State, at the conclusion of 2011 edition in the state.The NCAC's boss said the council was in consultation with the state government and that necessary facilities are already being upgraded in the state. 'They have assured us that preparations have started towards ensuring befitting facilities and to ensure that we are able to reach out to rural communities because this time, we want to take the festival to the local people to make them appreciate what we are doing.'It is these people that are supposed to know that there has to be change in perception and that the change is to look inward at those critical aspects of our culture that promote decency, integrity, patriotism and hard work'.
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