Lagos – The management of Amuwo-Odofin Local Government on Wednesday said that the local government would collaborate with the Centre for Black Arts and African Civilisation to celebrate FESTAC”77 @40 meant to project the nation’s rich culture.
Mr Oluwaseyi Buraimoh, the chairman of the council said this during when CBAAC official paid him a courtesy visit at the local government secretariat, Festac Town, Lagos.
He said that Nigeria’s hosing of the cultural festival in 1977 led the then Federal Government to build FESTAC Town for guests and participants from across the world.
“Festac town must remain a reference point internationally through the loads of cultural events that will be exhibited.’’
He assured the centre that some of his officials would henceforth be involved in the planning and organising of the forthcoming celebration.
” I am happy to receive you here today and I am equally glad that we shall soon be celebrating 40 years after Nigeria hosed FESTAC” 77.
” I can assure you that we will plan it together and I will release some of our officials to plan along with you.
” Festac Town today is a residential and cosmopolitan area with people from all ethnic nationalities which signifies that as a nation we can live together,” he said.
Also, Mr Shola Fakorede, the President, Festival Town Residents’ Association also said that the association was ready to form a strong and healthy synergy with CBAAC to ensure that the reminiscences of FESTAC’77 is brought back to life.
He called for collaborations and support from different state governments to ensure that the commemoration was colourful and eventful as huge fund would be needed.
” We call on all state governments who are not into this yet to get into it as it promises to be eventful and our culture and history will be re-enacted.
” We will have an award night where awards will be given to people who had contributed to the progress of the town, colloquium, indigenous poetry recitation display, dance, music, lectures, craft and arts display and lots more.
” We will have to work on our two points of entry which are porous, give Festac town a facelift because that is the focal point of the event.
“ These and more are what we need to do before the commencement of the programme in November,” he said.
Dr Ferdinand Anikwe, Director-General, Centre for Black Arts and African Civilisation, expressed excitement as the centre gained more collaborators, adding that the official celebration would be from Nov. 6 to Nov.11.
He said that currently 29 countries and nine states had indicated interest in participating.
He however called for more sponsors and states to collaborate to make it a huge success.
” This is an international event which I expect every state to key into so that there could be an exhibition of all states’ culture.
“We have received collaborations from so many states as well, these collaborations will fortify our plans and make it easy to achieve our desired goal which is to project Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage,” he said.
