Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has pledged to use the resources and influence of his office to position the state as a major hub for cultural tourism and the creative economy in Nigeria and Africa.
Oyebanji also urged young people in the state to turn their talents and creative abilities into businesses, jobs and wealth, saying this would help accelerate economic development and ensure that government investment in the creative sector delivers lasting benefits.
The governor spoke on Tuesday while declaring open the 2026 Ekiti State Festival of Arts and Culture (EKIFEST) at the Fajuyi Pavilion in Ado-Ekiti. The festival has the theme, “Continuity, The Pathway to Ensuring Prosperity”.
Represented by his Deputy, Monisade Afuye, Oyebanji said creativity and talent development offered significant opportunities for young people to build sustainable livelihoods amid current economic challenges.
Ahead of the opening ceremony, thousands of participants from the state’s 16 local government areas, local council development areas and various non-Ekiti communities took part in a cultural parade through Ado-Ekiti.
The parade was organised to promote the festival and highlight efforts to preserve and sustain the state’s cultural heritage and traditions.
Oyebanji said his administration’s focus on economic diversification included positioning arts, culture and tourism as key drivers of economic growth.
He said Ekiti’s development should not be assessed solely by the number of roads and other physical infrastructure delivered, but also by the ability of its leaders to preserve the history, identity and heritage of its people.
“My vision is clear: we want Ekiti to become Nigeria’s foremost destination for cultural tourism and one of Africa’s leading creative hubs,” he said.
The governor said his administration was investing in infrastructure, strengthening institutions, supporting creative talents and expanding opportunities for young entrepreneurs to enable culture to make a greater contribution to the state’s economy.
He also pledged continued government support for local artists, exhibitors and creative businesses through patronage and other initiatives aimed at improving their sustainability and contribution to economic growth.
Addressing young people, Oyebanji said: “Your creativity is your wealth. Your ideas can create jobs. Your talents can build businesses. Your imagination can transform communities. The creative economy is no longer the future – it is already here.”
He said the annual festival had evolved beyond a cultural celebration into an important component of his administration’s development agenda, particularly its efforts to tackle poverty and unemployment.
“Today marks the fourth consecutive edition of EKIFEST under this administration. This is no coincidence. It is a deliberate statement that culture occupies a majestic place in the domain of our development agenda,” he said.
Oyebanji expressed confidence that the 2026 edition would strengthen the state’s economy, deepen social cohesion and create more opportunities for young people and operators in the creative sector.
The Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Prof Rasak Ojo Bakare, commended the governor for what he described as significant investment in arts and culture since the beginning of his administration.
Bakare described EKIFEST as a celebration of Ekiti’s rich cultural heritage, saying culture should be viewed as more than entertainment.
He said the sector could promote social cohesion, hospitality, mutual respect and social order among people from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
“This year’s EKIFEST will feature cultural parade, command performances, traditional competitions and talent showcases that identify the cultural diversity of Ekiti people,” Bakare said.
He added that the state government recognised that cultural heritage could only be preserved if it was actively practised and transmitted to younger generations.
Bakare also said arts and culture had become one of the sectors contributing to employment and attracting investment in the state.
The festival featured a performance by veteran Yoruba actor and thespian Dele Odule and his cultural troupe.
The event was attended by local government chairmen, commissioners, special advisers, traditional rulers, academics, arts and culture practitioners, traditionalists, members of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) and representatives of cultural groups from different parts of Nigeria, including Igbo, Ibibio, Idoma, Tiv and Bassa communities.
