SPEECH DELIVERED BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF KADUNA STATE ARC MOHAMMED NAMADI SAMBO, fnia, AT THE KADUNA STATE FESTIVAL FOR ARTS AND CULTURE AT THE KADUNA TOWNSHIP STADIUM ON MONDAY 26^TH MAY 2008

Protocol

It gives me great pleasure to be here today to declare open the annual Kaduna State Festival of Arts and Culture (KADFEST), under the theme: Culture and the Challenges of Our Time: Promoting the Nigerian Dress Culture."

The festival which is an annual event, seeks primarily to showcase the rich cultural diversity which this State is greatly endowed with. It is gratifying to note that all the Local Governments in the State and related NGOs have assembled here to participate in this cultural fiesta.

I am informed that this year's event consist of competitive and non-competitive events in about ten (10) areas. Culture being a complete way of life is an area that this Government seeks to continuously promote. Therefore, for us to relegate our culture to the background amounts to losing our identity.

I am also aware that Kaduna State, through the efforts of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, has been performing wonderfully well at the National Cultural events like the annual National Festival of   Arts and Culture for which KADFEST serves as a preparatory ground. The State also performed well at the last Abuja Carnival where our artist at the fiesta came first at the Durbar event.

I note the symbiotic relationship between Culture and Tourism and that is why this administration has placed the desired attention to this all-important Sector. For instance, since our inception, we have taken concrete steps to enhance the Sector. I have recently given in-principle approval to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to expedite action on the Nok Archeological Research site so as to make it a Research, Cultural and Tourist destination of International standard. Pursuant to this, we are confident that in the next few months, our government and some international research institutions in Germany will jointly hold an international Conference in Germany on ways of internationalizing the famous Nok Culture.

Similarly, plans are underway to make other cultural sites like Queen Amina Seat, etc. tourists' sites.

Sequel to my disclosure at the AFAN Festival  on the 1^st of January this year, consultants have since commenced work at the Kagoro Hills Holiday Resort and that of the Kangimi Dam Holiday Resort which when completed will be one of the most significant  cultural and tourists sites in Nigeria. Payment of our counterpart funds have also commenced. This is in realization of these twin sectors to the tourism development in Kaduna State.

The theme of this festival: "Culture and the challenges of our Time: Promoting the Nigerian Dress Culture." is coming at the right time. This is so, because we are gradually fallen victims of cultural intrusion. It is therefore gratifying to remind ourselves of the uniqueness of our dress code. As we do sometimes appreciate the dress code of foreign cultures, they also do appreciate ours. Wit this, I urge us all to see our dress code as an avenue to imbibe self respect and confidence. This will ginger our local textile industries, fashion designs, local tie & dye cottage industries to enhance productivity.

I urge all participating Local Governments in this fiesta to imbibe the spirit of camaraderie in the various contests and the judges to also exhibit the highest sense of fairness.

With this, I once again welcome you all to the 2008 edition of KADFEST. It is my pleasure to declare this festival open

Thank you

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