The Edo State Government has urged for the collaboration of all stakeholders to preserve and promote the state’s rich cultural heritage, reassuring that the government will sustain efforts at preserving the state’s cultural assets and drive growth in the arts, culture and tourism sector.
The Edo State Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Diaspora Affairs, Hon. Bamidele Obaitan, made the call during a meeting with stakeholders in the arts and culture sector, in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
He reiterated the need for all stakeholders, especially those at the grassroots to be deeply involved in the process of leveraging Edo’s rich heritage to boost the growth of the economy.
The Commissioner, who spoke through the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Iryn Omorogiuwa Esq., said the government is working on developing a festival calendar to capture all local festivals across various communities in the state.
He, however, advised heads of social and cultural departments in the local councils to collate the data of all cultural and tourism sites as well as a compendium of all festivals at the grassroots for effective documentation.
The Commissioner, who emphasized the commitment of the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led government to reawaken all cultural and tourism sites in the state, further called for the collaboration of the stakeholders during World Dance Day coming up on the 29th of April 2022.
He further revealed the government’s plan to assist self-employed youths with grants through the African Development Bank (AfDB).
