NAFEST 2022: Niger Governor Commends State For Ranking High

Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello has commended the state contingent at the just-concluded 35th edition of the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) 2022 held in Lagos for their performance.

Governor Bello gave the commendation on Wednesday while receiving the awards won by the state contingent at the annual event during the weekly state executive council meeting. 

He assured of his continuous support to the Ministry and also encouraged the Contingent to do more next time.

Speaking to Journalists shortly after the presentation, the Commissioner for Tourism and Culture, Rifkatu Adamu Chidawa explained that 73 people including the officials and participants made up the state contingent that attended the annual event.

She further revealed that the state participated in 9 events comprising Competitive and Non-Competitive events out of a total of 13 events at the 2022 NAFEST. 

"We were not left out of this year's NAFEST. The state is known for her creativity, especially with the recent inclusion in the UNESCO creative city because of the outstanding cultural activities in Bida.

"Niger state is the only state in the whole of the country that is now part of UNESCO Creative City and for that reason, we came 1st in Lagos because of the innovations and the creativity that are known in Niger state.

"We received 5 awards in a written essay competition with the children. In the children's presentation, we presented traditional cuisine.

"We came with certificates also and we also came first in match past. The different cultural infusion that we have in Niger state gave us a colourful outing," the statement said.

This year's NAFEST which was tagged "Culture and Peaceful co-existence" was code-named EKO FEST.