Emmanuel Ukudolo
December 28, 2015 – If proposal of the Ministry of Information and Culture, goes through, at least 365 festivals will be held each year in Nigeria, meaning that no day will go without a festival being held somewhere in Nigeria.
Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed who made the revelation at the flag-off of the “One Lagos Fiesta” at the Agege, Lagos said the ministry intends to leverage on culture to employ many people, most especially the youths.
One Lagos Fiesta is organised by the Lagos State Government in furtherance of the Lagos Countdown. This year, it was Christened One Lagos Fiesta and decentralised to hold in five locations from December 27 to January 1, 2016, featuring 50 artistes.
“I can assure you that by January 2016, when we start rolling out our programmes, we will be able to mop up as many unemployed youths as possible using the cultural platform,” Mohammed said.
He said that the Federal Government has made available N500 billion in 2016 budget called social intervention to help young people acquire skills and trade.
The minister said that qualified youths would own their businesses before they will get the grant.
He further explained that arrangement have been concluded to ensure that all states recommend 10 cities,10 festivals,10 cultural industries.
“With this, we can have 360 festivals plus another five in Abuja making 365 festivals in Nigeria. This will mean that for every day, there will be festival taking place in one part of Nigeria,” he said.
Mohammed noted that the idea would enable Nigeria to have a compendium of cultural festivals and dates to be sent abroad to intimate people with the festivals available in the country at a particular time.
Also Speaking, Lagos state Governor Akinwumi Ambode said the “One Lagos Fiesta” was part of his administration’s efforts to bring governance to the communities and to have a government of inclusion.
Ambode explained that the fiesta was about the people living in the community and Lagosians. There were live performances by musicians including Seun Kuti and his Egypt 80 band, Dbanj, and Sasha P.
