Governor Lalong Officially Flag off NAFEST 2020

By Daniel Dauda,Jos


Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong stated that it is high time keyed in to harnessing our cultural potentials and artistic varieties for wealth creation and empowerment.

"As we get down to the details of this festival, we need to critically examine the challenges that the corona virus pandemic has brought upon us and how we can use Arts and Culture to address them. 

"In terms of the economic consequences of Covid-19, it will be important for us to demonstrate at this festival that our cultural endowments and artistic varieties can be used for wealth creation and empowerment," Lalong revealed.

The Governor while declared open the 33rd edition of National Festival of Arts and Culture(NAFEST 2020), on Monday with the theme: “Post Covid-19 and Cultural Dynamism” said is very apt because it draws our attention to the current situation we have found ourselves and how to make the best of it. In many ways, the pandemic has affected our lifestyles, making it necessary for us to seek ways of adapting to daily living.

He said in view of the fact that our arts and culture represent the very essence of our living, we cannot allow the pandemic to erode the value and significance of this very strong pillar of society. 

"That is why the Plateau State Government and the National Council for Arts and Culture carried out a lot of engagement with all stakeholders to secure clearance from the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 for this event to hold."


However, the Director General of National Council for Arts and Culture,NACA, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe acknowledged that Plateau possess immense tourism potentials but wonder why people are traveling abroad for tourism instead of coming to Plateau.

Also, Chairman Senate committee on Arts and Culture, Senator Rochas Okorocha opines "the people that does not know their heritage does not know how to end"

He said COVID-19 was not able to end us, economic and other things is in shambles, EndSARS has come and gone. " We must know how to end political SARS and EndSARS that is trying to end our culture.

Senator Rochas believed if Nigeria will know how harness it's tourism potentials then oil would not be the only source of revenue.

Minister of women affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen while welcoming contingents from 36 states who to showcase their skills admitted that the state peaceful.

She also said Plateau is the melting pot that unite Nigeria, calling on parents to always teach children how to respect our culture.

The official flag off of 33rd edition NAFEST 2020 which held at Rwang Pam Township Stadium was colorful as the event feature cultural displayed by various troops both within and outside Plateau.