Edo State delegation to the 2nd Culture and Creative Economy summit has expressed optimism on the State’s participation at the forthcoming National Festival of Arts, & Culture (NAFEST) billed for Enugu.
Head of Edo delegation and Director, Edo State Art Council, Mrs. Blessing Iyekekpolo expressed this to Newsmen in Enugu at the just concluded Culture and Creative Economy Summit in Enugu, Enugu State capital ahead of the 2025 National Festival of Arts & Culture (NAFEST) to be hosted by Enugu State from November 22-29 2025.
Iyekekpolo said, given the indisputable cultural endowment of Edo State, the present administration in the State led by Governor Monday Okpebholo acknowledges the importance of culture for national unity, development and growth.
Edo State hosted the spectacular 32nd edition of NAFEST for the first time in history in 2019 where it came out tied in 3rd position with Bayelsa while Rivers & Ogun States came first and second respectively.
Last Wednesday, Enugu State was officially handed down the symbolic NAFEST Gong, confirming it as the host of the 2025 National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) with the theme “Connected Culture”.
The symbolic NAFEST Gong was designed by the late Edo-born artist, Erhabor Emokpae, who also crafted the bronze replica of the Ivory mask Queen Idia, the world famous FESTAC ’77 official emblem.
The Culture & Creative Economy Summit put together by the National Council for Arts and Culture under its Director-General, Obi Asika, brought participants from across the 36 States of the country to engage on modalities for this year’s NAFEST
NAFEST is the cornerstone of Nigeria’s cultural calendar which features Traditional music, Dance, Drama, Crafts, Command Performance, Essay Writing competition, Painting, Traditional wrestling, Traditional cuisine from across the country including a mix of contemporary creatives.
