The National Festival for Arts and Culture will be held in Lagos State in 2022, according to Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, the state’s commissioner for tourism, arts, and culture (NAFEST).
The preparation is 100% finished, according to the commissioner, who made the assurance during a media facilities tour of the festival location on Friday at the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos.
According to Akingbile-Yusuf, the celebration taking place from November 7 to November 13 will go down in history as one of the most significant. She reassured arts lovers all around the federation that the necessary infrastructure, security, and other preparations for the event had been put in place.
She praised Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the governor of Lagos State, for the tremendous support received. “As you can all see that we are 100 per cent ready to host Eko NAFEST, All hands are on deck to see that our culture of excellence match the appreciable support of Governor Sanwo-Olu.
“Mr governor promised that he is going to make this year’s edition of NAFEST a story to be talked about by many, you can see that he has not only promised but he has backed his promise with lots of action.
“The governor has been able to rebrand the iconic National Stadium, it has become a new edifice everyone can be proud of,” she said. The commissioner noted that all security agencies and agencies of government were working unanimously with the ministry in ensuring a successful outing.
She said even as the number of intending tourists for the festival keeps increasing on a daily basis, conducive accommodation would be provided for all revellers.
Akinbile-Yusuf, referring to a recent report, said Lagos was rated the 56th safest city in the world, assuring tourists of their safety. She said the state had also designed creative programmes to feature during the 35th NAFEST, like the entertainment city and nightlife and concerts.
According to her, all stakeholders cutting across tourism, arts, culture and hospitality would be fully involved in the festival as they look forward to making bountiful sales. She noted that the various local government areas within the state would also be participating in the festival.
“Hosting this NAFEST is a thing of joy for me because I will get to see my brothers and sisters from across the country without travelling far and wide. “As a state, we are excited because this is a huge opportunity for us to improve on our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and ensure the necessary data are generated for future reference,” she said.