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Pride in your identity, reflect your culture in all facts, Minister tells Nigerians
By Solomon Attah, Lafia
Hanatu Musawa, the Minister of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, has acknowledged the transformative power of culture, arts and creativity, in promoting national unity, social cohesion and economic growth of the country cannot be underestimated.
The Minister said, for Nigerians to take a sense of pride in their identity, there is the need for them to reflect their culture in all facets of human endeavours.
Musawa stated this at the 36th edition of the National Festival of the National Council of Arts and Culture (NAFEST), currently holding at the Arts and Crafts village in Abuja, the Nation’s capital.
According to her, Nigeria diversity is been celebrated at it peak at NAFEST, as compared to the previous years, with resilience and creativity for national development.
“This is a real opening door to something different when it comes to the topestry arts and culture, as NAFEST is now here to stay, it’s going to grow from strength to strength.
“And as we progresses, we hope to see more participation in NAFEST’, saying ‘this is an expression of our culture, creativity, arts and different traditions.”
“Our rich cultural heritage is a source of our strength, inspiration and pride for all Nigerians.”
She reiterated the commitment of the federal government to creating an enabling environment that supports the growth and development of the sector.
“We will continue to work tirelessly towards promoting Nigeria arts and culture globally, creating jobs and opportunities for our creative talents and preserve our rich cultural heritage for future generations”, she emphasized.
While describing this year’s NAFEST as amazing, Musawa observed that, the states participation exposes Nigeria to world of its rich cultural endowments.
“The different states representation make one feel proud of Nigeria culture. When you talk about diversity, there is nowhere you will see that more than somewhere like NAFEST.
“The different events which participants took part is amazing. And so, when you talk about Nigeria arts, craft, culture and creativity, NAFEST is really the place to be”, the Minister said.
The Director General, NCAC, Obi Asika, commended his management team, participating states and partners for making the 2024 NAFEST a success.
Asika said, his council, alongside other sisters agencies are working towards increasing opportunities and to expand the space for more participation.
As according to the DG, the strongest asset Nigeria has is the culture and the people “and if you empower the people and connect the culture, then the future can be monetize.
He revealed plan to build a 4000 capacity arena in order to bring the arts and crafts village alive, adding that, about 22 states are participating in the year’s NAFEST in Abuja.
Asika further revealed his intention his to make NAFEST more bigger that will connect young people, and this can be achieved when Nigeria big brands key into their initiatives.
The weeklong programme which commenced since 22 November, is expected to end Saturday, 20 November, 2024, and is currently holding at the Arts and Crafts village in Abuja.
Some of the activities taking center stage at this year’s NAFEST, as scheduled by the organizer includes cooling competition, cultural fashion and lifestyle, singing and dancing competition, wrestling.
Aides, Allies Disown Him, Say You’re a Traitor, We’re not Leaving PDP
Barely two weeks after his defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), crisis has enveloped the political camp of a member of the House of Representatives for Obokun/Oriade federal constituency in Osun State, Oluwole Oke.
Indeed, these are not the best of times for him as his defection to the APC is eliciting rejection from his close circles and constituency.
His key allies who he groomed into politics and government positions have rejected his calls on them to join him to defect to the APC.
A source said that in the last few days, key aides and allies of the lawmaker have rejected his movement to the APC, describing it as a political tragedy.
“With the way he betrayed PDP, Oluwole Oke is like the proverbial Leopard that can never change the spots on its body. He will also betray the APC. We are staying back in PDP while severing political links with him”, one of his allies, Bamidele Johnson said.
Some of his allies were said to have openly declared that the defection marks a political waterloo for the 6th term legislator.
For instance, some of Oke’s allies in his Local Government scorned his move as “a decision borne out of greed and selfishness.”
One of them described him as “an ingrate who betrayed a party on whose platform he got married in life as a lawmaker and on whose platform he gained all his material riches.”
The Northern Youths Consultative Forum for Justice (NYCJ) has urged Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Zamfara State, citing a complete breakdown of governance, law, and order.
In a statement issued on Monday in Kano, NYCJ President Dr Sanusi Rano described the situation in Zamfara as “organised abandonment of duty” by elected officials.
“What we are witnessing in Zamfara is not governance. It is betrayal of the people,” Rano said, pointing to the absence of a functional state House of Assembly and allegations linking officials to criminal activities.
The group highlighted the suspension of 10 lawmakers who spoke out against the deteriorating security situation, arguing that their removal has left Zamfara without a legally recognised legislative body.
“This is a dictatorship of silence,” said Rano, adding that the lack of checks and balances has deepened the state’s crisis.
“The same hands that should protect Zamfara are profiting from its destruction,” Rano stated.
Calling for decisive action, the group demanded the appointment of a non-partisan administrator to rebuild the state’s institutions.
“If this is not done now, Zamfara risks becoming a permanent state of anarchy, which threatens our democracy,” Rano warned.
Justice Nwosu-Iheme of a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, on Monday, sentenced the husband of late gospel singer, Osinachi, Peter Nwachukwu, to death by hanging.
Nwachukwu was found guilty of culpable homicide resulting in the death of the deceased ( his wife) on April 8, 2022.
The judge held that the prosecution had proven the burden of proof placed on it by the law and subsequently found the defendant guilty.
Nwachukwu was arraigned on June 3, 2022 by the Office of Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF), on behalf of the Federal Government, on a 23-count charge .
The charge was on culpable homicide punishable with death, criminal intimidation, cruelty to children, criminal intimidation of children, spousal battery, among others.
In the course of trial, the prosecution called 17 witnesses, including two children of the late Osinachi, who testified as fourth prosecution and fifth prosecution witnesses, PW4 and PW5 respectively.
The prosecution also tendered 25 documents as exhibits before the court.
The defendant testified for the defence and further called four other witnesses and tendered four exhibits in his defence.
Shortly before sentencing, the defendant, counsel , Reginald Nwali, in his allocutus pleaded with the court to be lenient in its judgment.
Similarly, the prosecution counsel, Mrs Aderonke Imala, urged the court to give force to the law as stipulated.
Justice Nwosu-Iheme subsequently sentenced Nwachukwu to death by hanging on Count 1, while he was sentenced to two years imprisonment each on Counts 2, 3, 8,9, 12, 13, and 18.
The court sentenced the defendant to six months imprisonment on Count 10, three years imprisonment in Count 11, while he was fined the sum of N500,000 and N200,000 respectively on Counts 6 and 7 respectively. (NAN)