Yakowa kicks off 2011 Kaduna Cultural Festival
Kaduna State Governor – Patrick Yakowa, has called on the residents to embrace peace by ensuring that this year’s Kaduna cultural festival further cements the existing harmonious and cordial relations among them.
Yakowa made the call when he declared open the 2011 Kaduna State Festival of Arts and Culture (KADFEST) in Kaduna.
He said the theme of this year’s celebration, “Nigerian Music Industry: A Vehicle for Job Creation and National Unity”, was apt as it addressed the need for peaceful coexistence among the people.
Represented by his deputy, Alhaji Muktar Ramalan Yero, the governor said the people of the state had seen the need to embrace peace which, he noted, served as a catalyst for meaningful development.
“We understand our differences and are prepared to live together as one people for the development and growth of the state,” he said.
Yakowa urged the local government councils present at the opening ceremony to exploit the rich cultural opportunities available in the state and wished the participants a fruitful KADFEST.
Welcoming the delegates, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Hajiya Hauwa Dalhat, explained that the festival was aimed at propagating peace and unity in the state.
Dalhat said the culture ministry was a stakeholder in enthroning peaceful coexistence in the state and the country at large as it extended its invitation to the Calabar Carnival team.
One of the participants, Mr Benet Kuzat, of the Jama’a Local Government cultural troupe, expressed satisfaction with the timely organisation of this year’s festival.
“Our people have been clamouring for an atmosphere like this where we will all put our differences apart and unite as one people.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that cultural troupes from all the 23 local government areas of the state, which featured at the opening, were dressed in their various rich cultural costumes as they also displayed different dancing skills.
Source: Nigerian Tribune
