The Cultural Village of the 2022 edition of the National Festival of Arts and Culture (Eko NAFEST ) was declared opened yesterday by the Director General, National Council of Arts and Culture Otunba Segun Runsewe.

Declaring the village opened, Runsewe said the cultural village offers Nigerians, once again, the opportunity to know one another better. He said part of the things breeding conflicts among different ethnic groups in the country is lack of understanding and appreciation of our different cultures, and that places like the cultural village of NAFEST give Nigerians the opportunity to know one another better.

Also speaking at the Cultural Village, the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf said: “The truth of the matter is that when you have this kind of festival and you don’t have commerce around it, you’ve not done it all. So, having this kind of market gives us the opportunity to showcase what we have. I think it is very important. So, I call on Lagosians, they should come into the market at NIS to come and buy, and see beautiful things. Lovely things are here from every part of Nigeria, and they should come and see for themselves.

“I also want to use this opportunity to say a big thank you to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for accommodating Nigerians at this critical time that we are. We know, after this festival, Nigeria will continue to be stronger than ever before.”

Among the early birds at the NAFEST Eko Cultural Village include Abia State, Rivers State, National Population Commission, Nigerian Navy, and some private arts and craft galleries.