Atosuma Gani, the Taraba Commissioner for Culture and Tourism on Wednesday said that the 2018 National Festival for Arts and Culture would unite Nigerians.
Gani said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on the sideline of the ongoing 31st edition of NAFEST in Port Harcourt.
This year’s festival has as its theme: “Nigeria: Our Festivals, Our Heritage.”
According to him NAFEST discourages discrimination among ethnic groups and states.
He said: “You can see that everyone is here regardless of our religions and ethnicity; we are here with different coloration.
“So it is a very rich value that we have in this part of the world. Culture develops and promotes Nigeria as a country.”
The commissioner said that Nigerian cultures should be sustained as a tool to unite the young generation, and harnessed to yield economic value.
Gana said: “We will propagate our culture and let our children know that is a thing that will unite them and take away discrimination from one another.
“So culture is the heritage that we will pass on to our children to unite them.”
He called on youths to embrace the indigenous culture, shun violence and live in peace with their neighbours.
He said: “You can see that airlines are busy flying people into the state for this festival and that is a great economic value.
“Hoteliers are making huge money because every visitor that comes into the state for this event checks into a hotel.
“Food vendors, petty traders, taxis operators and photographers are happy because their businesses are moving.”
The commissioner also commended the security situation in Port Harcourt the host city for this year’s NAFEST.
He said: “The security is in order because since we came in there has not been any security challenge; so I can say the atmosphere is calm and good.”
The 31st edition of the festival which attracted 18 states including Rivers was flagged off on Tuesday by the host Governor. Nyesom Wike.
Follow The Eagle Online Channel on WhatsApp
