The 2022 National Festival of Arts and Culture will be held in Lagos, Nigeria’s most renowned state, it is now certain (NAFEST). 

There are no questions about the fact that NAFEST is Nigeria’s largest cultural tourist export or that Nigerians are strongest when they are unified rather than when we are divided by the things that tend to lubricate our socioeconomic and political upheavals.

NAFEST runs on the fuel of Nigeria’s banquet of festivals, dances, indigenous culinary expressions, history, artifacts, tongues, and humongous display of infinite energy and patriotism, which propels unending research about the wealth and unbelievable attitude of the people. This fuel comes from Kaduna to Rivers, Edo to Plateau, and Ekiti.

Each festival’s subject fosters growth and raises the profiles of our minor cultures and traditions, emphasizes inherent virtues and attractive inclusivity, and opens doors to community, unity, love, and connection.

Nigeria’s chief cultural officer, Otunba Segun Runsewe, sets the tone for each festival outing by promoting evangelical cultural awareness. He is loved dearly by many Nigerians who are in awe of our country’s natural beauty, rich culture, and kind hospitality. Before Otunba Runsewe arrived on the scene, Nigeria’s cultural vehicle had not traveled through the nooks and crannies of our uninhabited landscapes in the previous six years.

His message is centered on the ability of change narratives to unite our faith and trust in our way of life. Each dining room’s vast exhibition of our regional cuisine, which includes soups, snacks, beverages, and peacocks of “swallows” native to each geopolitical region, reveals magnificent hospitality and wonders that are unheard of and unthinkable.

It was once credited to Runsewe that Nigeria and everything unquestionably bestowed upon us by God, from Hills, Mountains, Rivers, landscapes, Groves and forests ecosystems, fauna resources, festivals and dances, and indigenous Culinary expressions, lay in the trajectory of a wonderful gifted tourism nation while we waited for the push of our cultural tourism wonders.

Students and observers of our strategic evolving cultural renaissance through NAFEST must acknowledge that beyond our festivals, Nigeria has a new song on natural resources and environmental conservation if they are to comprehend the distinctiveness and richness of our cultural advantage, according to Runsewe.

“I want to showcase beyond our dances and food culture, the 37 wonders of Nigeria and there is no better place to do so than at Eko NAFEST, “Runsewe says to the prospect of a refreshing discovery, which governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu will unveil in November.

Our native arts and crafts do, in fact, position this reality as unquestionably a bankable economy, linked with wealth and a funnel to luring foreign tourism spending and creating rural jobs.

Last week, Runsewe made it clear that Lagos must strategically reposition its socioeconomic reach and acceptance as Africa’s destination for trade and tourism, through NAFEST and the revealing of the 37 wonders of Nigeria, in a talk with governor Sanwo-Olu on Eko NAFEST.

As a true partner and supporter of the “new Lagos,” Governor Sanwo-Olu has won the hearts of locals, residents, and visitors alike by promoting community development through the NAFEST model.

Optimistic about a fresh approach to Eko NAFEST, Runsewe further promises to unearth lost historical, traditional, and cultural details about Lagos.

Significantly, Eko NAFEST will support new tourist arrivals and exhibit Lagos’ wonders, nightlife, hospitality, and culture on a full cultural tourism dinner plate for governor Sanwo-Olu.

Runsewe promises that Eko NAFEST will be different, and you can count on him to fulfill his word and carry out his ambitions for bigger chances for the regeneration and rebranding of Nigerian culture tourism through Eko NAFEST 2022.