Introduction
The 29th edition of the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) 2016 with the theme “Exploring the Goldmine inherent in Nigeria’s Creative Industries” was held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State from Sunday 2nd to Sunday 9th October, 2016.
NAFEST is an annual festival designed to serve as a veritable index for cultural exchange; promoting peace and unity, as well as serving as a platform for engineering creativity, job creation and economic empowerment.
Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State
The week-long festival was declared open by His Excellency, Emmanuel Udom, the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State ably represented by His Excellency, Moses Frank Ekpo the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State on Tuesday, 4th October 2016 at 5:00pm.
His Excellency, Moses Frank Ekpo, MFR, Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State
Drawing contingents from all across Nigeria, the Cultural fiesta served as a platform for the exhibition and exploration of the rich potentials that abound in Nigeria’s Creative Industries towards the diversification efforts of Mr. Present, as well as provided a unifying link for the diverse ethnic groups in the country as evidenced in the transactions, friendliness and atmosphere of conviviality that was at play during the one-week event.
Mrs. Ayotunde Adesugba, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture delivering the Minister’s Speech at the Official Opening Ceremony of NAFEST 2016 held on Tuesday 4th October, 2016 at Uyo Township Stadium, Akwa Ibom State.
NAFEST 2016 had participation from seventeen (17) States and the FCT viz: Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Delta, Ebonyi, FCT, Kaduna, Katsina, Kano, Kebbi, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ogun, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, and Akwa Ibom.
Mrs. Dayo Keshi, Director General, National Council for Arts and Culture and Festival Director delivering her Welcome Address at the Official Opening Ceremony of NAFEST 2016 held on Tuesday 4th October, 2016 at Uyo Township Stadium, Akwa Ibom State
Also in attendance were the supervising Ministry and its Parastatals, the Media, Non-Governmental Organizations, Schools, various Artistic and Cultural Groups, Guilds and relevant associations making a total of over Ten Thousand Nine Hundred and One (10,901) participants and spectators for the duration of the week-long fiesta and a total of over Twenty Thousand (20,000) entries at the festival.
Contingent from Kwara State as they take the Match Past at NAFEST 2016
The events of NAFEST 2016 included: Indigenous Poetry Performance Competition, Children’s Essay Writing Competition, Children’s Drawing/ Painting Competition, Drama Performance, Arts and Crafts Exhibition Traditional Wrestling (Intermediate Category 40kg-50kg), Traditional Cuisine Competition, Command Performance, Official Opening Ceremony, Culture Round Table/NAFEST 2016 Colloquium, Cultural Market, and the Official Closing Ceremony. There was an organized tour for state contingents.
After a comprehensive and riveting presentation by States, the FCT and Non-Governmental Organizations, below are the overall winning States:
- 1st position – Bayelsa State
- 2nd position – Akwa Ibom State
- 3rd position – FCT
- 4th position – Lagos
At last the long-awaited Gong has come! Mrs. Payeboye Festus-Lukah, Acting Executive Director, Bayelsa State Council for Arts and Culture Overall Winner of NAFEST 2016 receiving the NAFEST 2016 Presidential Gong presented to Bayelsa State by the Executive Governor of Akwa-Ibom ably represented by Hon. Otuekong Ibiok, Hon. Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Akwa-Ibom State at the Official Closing Ceremony held on Saturday 8th October, 2016 at the Uyo Township Stadium Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State
In line with Council’s policy of recognizing and rewarding excellence, certificates of participation were given to all the participating states and the FCT. Other participants were the neighbouring African countries: Ghana, Mali, and Cote D’Ivoire.
Awards were also given for the following categories:
- Special Awards
- Best Costumed State: Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Kano, and Delta States
- Largest Contingent at NAFEST 2016: Akwa Ibom (308) and Niger (192) States
- Minister’s Golden Gong: Sokoto State.
- The Best behaved and Organized State: Ebonyi States
- Most Improved State: Kebbi State.
- Most Consistent State at NAFEST 2016: Taraba, Benue and Kwara States.
- Most Innovative State in Packaging: Kaduna State.
Bayelsa State Contingents Overall Winner at NAFEST 2016 Jubilating with the Presidential Gong
- Prize Awards (Winning States in the Competitive Events)
- Indigenous Poetry Performance
1st Position – Akwa Ibom State
2nd Position – FCT
3rd Position – Bayelsa State
4th Position – Delta State
- 2. Arts and Crafts
1st Position – Ogun State
2nd Position – Niger State
3rd Position – Bayelsa State
4th Position – Katsina State
- Traditional Wrestling (Junior Category)
1st Position – Bayelsa State
2nd Position – Kano State
3rd Position – Niger State
4th Position – Bauchi State
- Traditional Cuisine
1st Position – Bayelsa State
2nd Position – FCT State
3rd Position – Akwa-Ibom State
4th Position – Bauchi State
- Drama
1st Position – Ogun State
2nd Position – Lagos State
3rd Position – Delta State
4th Position – Sokoto State
1st Position – Lagos State
2nd Position – Bayelsa State
3rd Position – Akwa-Ibom State
4th Position – FCT
- Children’s Drawing/Painting Competition
1st Position – Lagos State
2nd Position – Bayelsa State
3rd Position – Akwa-Ibom State
4th Position – FCT
Abdulrahaman Saheed 13 years old student from Isolo Comprehensive High School, Lagos, Winner of Children’s Drawing/Painting Competition at NAFEST 2016 been congratulated by Mrs. Dayo Keshi, DG, National Council for Arts and Culture while the Hon. Commissioner of Culture and Tourism Akwa Ibom State Hon. Otuekong Ibiok looks on
- Children’s Essay Writing Competition
1st Position – Lagos State
2nd Position – FCT
3rd Position – Akwa-Ibom State
4th Position – Taraba State
Bello Olabisi student from Dansol High School, Lagos, Winner of Children’s Essay Writing Competition at NAFEST 2016 in a warm embrace with Mrs. Dayo Keshi, DG National Council for Arts and Culture
- Hosting State Gong: Akwa Ibom State
Hosting State Gong
In attendance at the week-long festival were numerous dignitaries viz;
His Excellency, Mr. Moses Frank Ekpo, Deputy Governor Akwa Ibom State; Mrs. Ayotunde Adesugba, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture; Mrs. Dayo Keshi, Director General National Council for Arts and Culture; Mr. Akin Adejuwon, Artistic Director, National Troupe of Nigeria; Hon. Otuekong Ibiok, Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Akwa Ibom State; Elder Barrister Offiong Udofi Udoffe, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism Akwa Ibom State; Dr. Iniobong Ene Essien, Honourable Commissioner of Environment and Mineral Resources Akwa Ibom State; Dr. Glory Emmanuel Edet, Honourable Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Welfare; as well as Members of the Akwa Ibom State House of Representatives, Honourable Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries, Director Generals, Directors from the participating States and the FCT, Professor Ben Ekanem; Traditional Rulers, and many other Stakeholders in the Arts and Culture Industry.
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L-R: Mrs. Adesugba, Mr. Frank Ekpo, Mrs. Keshi, and Mr. Adejuwon at the Official Opening Ceremony held on Tuesday 4th October, 2016 at the Uyo Township Stadium Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State.
NAFEST 2016 came to a close on Saturday, 8th October, 2016 at 6:00pm. The 30th National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) 2017 will be hosted by Kaduna State.