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Youths in Ekiti state have been urged to wake up to the socio-economic benefits of getting involved in promotion of the arts and cultural heritage of the state,
The Director-General, Council for Arts and Culture, Mr. Wale Ojo Lanre, gave the advice on Saturday while speaking with journalists at the grand finale of Ladunwo Festival in Oke-Mesi, Ekiti State.
Ojo Lanre lamented that the involvement of young people in traditional and cultural activities was not encouraging. He promised to initiate programmes and ideas that will boost their morale in creative industry as well as harness their economic potentials.
According to him, the lack of interest in cultural activities is one of the consequences of globalization “but we are going change the narrative by engaging them in a way that will be more beneficial and encouraging”
He added: “One of the cardinal point of Dr Kayode Fayemi administration in Ekiti state is restoring the value through promotion traditional and cultural identity and great virtue of Ekiti state and that is exactly why we are calling on everybody to be involved for a greater and better future”.
He said the state was ready to support the youth in the creative industry with a view of discovering more talents and creating jobs in the state.
Ojo Lanre described the Ladunwo festival organized by Okemesi Cultural heritage promotion, as one of the traditional functions that attracts government attention because of its relevance to Oke-Mesi history and the Yoruba at large
“This is a well packaged programme, you can see hundreds of masquerades and other cultural activities going on, there is no violence and everybody is in the joyous mood” he said. ” I am sure by next edition, there will be improvement and increase in the number of sponsors and participants, number of local and foreign tourists would increase and the economy of the host communities and the state would be affected positively.”
Prince Kayode Oni, chairman organizing committee in his remark said the triennial event is a celebration of an ancestral masquerade known to be an agent of peace and progress in the town.
“We have masquerade festivals annually but Ladunwo is triennial because that is the tradition and we are happy with the development”.