As part of the side attractions for this year’s National Festival for Arts and Culture (NAFEST 2022) to be hosted by the Lagos State Government, its Planning Committee chairman, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe has announced that N5 million is the star prize for best visual artist of the week-long event.
NAFEST 2022 is scheduled to hold between 7th and 13th November at the National Stadium Surulere and Onikan Stadium, Onikan, Lagos.
Runsewe told the committee members that the visual artists’ corner is one of the innovations introduced to the festival, describing the initiative as the first of its kind.
According to him, the visual artists would be given the task of drawing Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu after which a panel of judges would examine the artwork to choose the best three.
He said that the planning committee for the event has received needed support from the Governor, who, he said, was determined to ensure that the state, by playing host to NAFEST, set the pace for other states.
He said that as an affirmation of the wide acceptability of the state, other states have expressed readiness to take part in the annual event with the sponsorship of a larger contingent to NAFEST 2022.
Runsewe said: “Lagos will be making history by having all the events for the one-week programme at a single location, except for the opening and closing ceremonies which will take place at Onikan Stadium”.
He said that the meeting was to update committee members about the preparations already in place.
The committee chairman the members would receive Certificates of Participation and would be proud to have served the state and Nigeria in that capacity.
“We want to change the narrative whereby lesser attention is paid to those that worked behind the scenes for a successful event. These persons must be duly appreciated and given appropriate recognition”, he added.
The meeting had in attendance the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf; the Special Adviser on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Femi Martins; and the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Oyinade Nathan-Marsh, among other principal officials of the Ministry.
