October 18, (THEWILL) – Lagos State Government has renovated the National Stadium, the venue for hosting the 2022 edition of the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST).
This information was issued by the Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Segun Runsewe, who noted in the statement that Lagos state had been designed to host the 2022 edition of NAFEST from Nov. 7 to 13, 2022.
Runsewe said that the National Stadium, earmarked as the venue for the festival had been artistically repositioned to host the festival with colourful paintings and artistic works in place, courtesy of Gov. Sanwo-Olu.
Runsewe, who assessed the venue of the festival alongside Lagos state Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, said this was very impressive.
“Though eyes may not readily see the changes from the gates of a gigantic stadium at the National Institute for Sports (NIS), domiciled inside the stadium, presents impressive and colourful features of the facilities.
“This is a transformative connect between cultural tourism and sports, a message Gov. Sanwo-Olu intends to showcase as destination offerings even after the festival.
“From the lodging facilities of NIS to the splash of colourful paints, artistic works display and renovations of toilets and recreation areas, signposts the signs of a great outing for Nigeria’s biggest cultural tourism extravaganza.
“The 36 states of the federation are expected to storm the city of Lagos, from November 7th to 13th”, he said.
Runsewe assured revellers of utmost security throughout the duration of the festival.
He said he was currently working unanimously with Akinbile-Yusuf on repositioning security, considering the huge delegations and cultural troupes who would be in attendance during the festival.
He noted that a media tour would be organised to unveil the refreshing transformation of the sports city by Gov. Sanwo-Olu.
According to him, during this tour, the National stadium’s capacity to provide revenue-yielding opportunities for outdoor events on sports, culture and tourism would also be unveiled.
Again, he said Sunday Dare, Nigeria’s Sports Minister and a journalist, may headline the Media tour.
Otunba Segun Runsewe, Director General of National Council for Arts and Culture NCAC and President, Africa Region of World Craft Council (NCC), was in Lagos over the weekend, running rings with Lagos Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs Akinbile, like master soccer players, directing and driving the renewal process festival choice grounds and also powering the values which cultural tourism can bring to infrastructural maintenance architecture and usage.
Otunba Segun Runsewe and Akinbile are also repositioning security for the festival, and with thousands of cultural delegations and troupes from all over the country, Lagos State is known for massive investment in security architecture, there is no doubt Governor Babajide Sanwo-0lu, has found powerful willing destination marketers in Runsewe, supported by Pharmacist Akinbile, with Eko NAFEST, expected to showcase the culture and economic investment opportunities in the city of aquatic splendour.
Janefrances Ebere Chibuzor is a Tourism Writer at THEWILL
