Governor Simon Lalong Middle together with Governor of Yobe state Mailali Buni right and Minister Youth and Sports development Sunday Dare left


By Daniel Dauda, Jos



Contingents from Bayelsa State have emerged as overall champions in a keenly contest of the recent concluded 33rd edition of National Festival for Arts and Culture, NAFEST, 2020.

However, participants from Ekiti and Rivers states became second runners up, Plateau State third runner up while Kano and Enugu states stand at forth position as Delta, FCT, and Kaduna state grab fifth position respectively.

The 33rd edition of NAFEST 2020 which has the theme" Post COVID-19 and Cultural Dynamism" held in Plateau State, the 'Home of Peace and Tourism' kick started from 22 Sunday to 28 Saturday November, 2020, saw participants drawn from 26 states including Federal Capital Territory,FCT, Abuja.

Initially, the contingents were keenly competed in nine different areas these include; Traditional Cuisine, Children Easy Writing competition, Children Arts and crafts competition, Archery, Coral Music, Children indigenous music instrumentalism, Traditional board game, Indigenous fabric and fashion and Culture Quiz respectively.


Declaring the week long event closed, Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong who is very optimistic opines that "I have been vindicated for boasting that Plateau is peaceful.

He said is high time to strive as a nation to revive our diminishing culture and chart the way forward.

While congratulating the winners and all participants of NAFEST 2020, Governor Lalong admonished them to always promote peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding in their respective state of abode.

Yobe state Governor and acting chairman of ruling party, All Progress Congress, APC, Mailali Buni presented certificate of participation and Gong for all participating states.

In the same vein, the minister of Youth and sports development, Sunday Dare acknowledged that Plateau Plateau signpost the blend of sports and culture. 

"If we can harness the potentials of culture and sports then Nigeria will remain peaceful." Dare added.

Earlier, Director General of National Council for Arts and Culture, Dr. Otunba Olusegun Runsewe said the weather in Jos is capable of changing the economic fortune of the country.

Overall winner NAFEST 2020, contingents from Bayelsa State.

He confirmed that Plateau is peaceful and hospitable, bemoaned wicked people for sabotaging the state.

He called on the central government of Nigeria to make Plateau a Dubai of Nigeria, nothing that Jos will become the medical of arts history, as Plateau has the first Golf club in Nigeria(Rayfield Golf club) that was established since 1913.

According to the DG, Runsewe " we should start a new concept of Nigeria with culture and sports. There is a connection between culture and sports.Why are we fighting ourselves when we have some thing that unite us?"

The 34th edition of NAFEST 2021 will be hosted by Ekiti state.