Director- General, Ekiti State Council for Arts and Culture, Ambassador Wale Ojo Lanre has said that the state governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi’s vision is to make the state the arts and cultural hub of Nigeria.
Ojo Lanre disclosed this while receiving the Governor of Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Producers Association of Nigeria, (TAMPPAN) Oyo State, Chief Rose Odika in his office at the Ekiti State Government Secretariat ,Ado Ekiti.
He disclosed that the governor and his wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi are conscious of the importance of arts, promotion of cultural heritage and value re-orientation through development and promotion of pristine culture and tradition.
“It is in that view that the governor deemed it fit to establish the Ekiti State Council for Arts and Culture with the mandate to rejuvenate, promote and develop arts and cultural sector for empowerment and economic development of the state.”
Ojo- Lanre disclosed that “at the Council level, we have embarked on series of sensitization programmes, participated in cultural events and we are also working on training of younger ones in the creative industry with the intent of making them vessels of rebranding and promoting our culture”.
Ojo Lanre revealed that the council was opened to ideas from corporate bodies, individuals and organizations in moving the state forward through arts and culture.
“Our door is widely opened to welcome people with ideas and our template is large enough to accommodate, nourish and enhance packages. That can add value of note to the arts and cultural vision of Dr John Kayode Fayemi’.
In her response, Chief Odika lauded Dr Kayode Fayemi for appointing Ambassador Wale Ojo Lanre, who she described as a ‘super cultural and tourism enthusiast ‘ as the Director General and expressed optimism about the performance of the DG.
She said her visit was to intimate the state of her plan to collaborate with Ekiti State Council for Arts and Culture in empowering the younger youths through intensive training on acting, cinematography, catering, pedicure and manicure among others.
Chief Odika who said the programme is part of activities lined up to mark her 30th anniversary in the movie industry revealed that participants would feature in the shooting and acting of a movie.
She said that Ekiti is a state specially created by God for creative exploits and “we are here to explore this creativity blessing for human development” .
