The Nation Newspaper

Tag: festival

  • LASG endorses Eko Music Festival

    LASG endorses Eko Music Festival

    SCHEDULED to hold from April 26 to 28, Lagos State Government, via its Ministry of Tourism and Inter-Governmental Relations, has endorsed the 2013 edition of the Eko Music Festival.

    A letter of approval addressed to the organisers and signed by a Senior Special Assistant to the Governor, Morounranti Aleniosu, states: “In line with the ministry’s set vision of making Lagos State the preferred tourist destination in Nigeria, and indeed Africa, we are pleased to be associated with your vision and drive in showcasing the musical excellence and peculiarity of the Nigerian people. Kindly accept our congratulations on behalf of Lagos State Government.”

    Planned to be streamed live on the internet, and also syndicated to media agencies abroad, a member of the Eko Music Festival board, Mrs. Bridget Omeiza-Lawani, said that the festival is all about live performances as the international community is not impressed by singers who mime.

    She also disclosed that the festival will include a cultural display by various troupes which will have the opportunity of presenting to the world their rich heritage on the festival’s platform.

    CEO of EKO Music Festival, Ayo George, says that the event, among other things, comes out of the need to take Nigerian culture and music live to global viewers. The carnival is expected to feature 10 different musicians each day for the four days it is planned to hold.

  • OPC celebrates festival

    OPC celebrates festival

    The Chief Promoter of the Olokun Festival, Otunba Gani Adams, has said that members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) will continue to live by the natural laws given by God.

    He told reporters at the lecture series to mark the celebration of the 2013 Eledumare Festival, at the Excellence Hotel, Ogba, Lagos, that those who hold the view that members of the OPC don’t worship God were living in the past and needed to change their perception.

    Gani said the celebration of the Eledumare festival was its members’ little way of thanking God for his mercies upon their lives.

    He said: “You will agree with me that the only way to say thank you to Him is to organise a thanksgiving in His honour and that is why we are gathered here today. I thank Him for giving us the privilege as mortal beings to celebrate Him.”

    He explained that those who termed the OPC members as fetish were very ignorant because the organisation parades members of all religious groups.

    “They are either ignorant or have forgotten that we have members who are Christians, Muslims and traditional religion believers but one thing that joined us together is our common ancestry as sons and daughters of Oduduwa.

    “Studies have shown that the Yoruba are not intellectually poor as to lack in knowledge the concept of God as the Supreme Being. In fact, this Supreme Being has many attributes which are well espoused on how the Yoruba view Him.”

    He advised the government to address problems confronting the nation by collaborating with the civil societies and other organisations such as OPC at nipping in the bud the challenges of insecurity.

    Gani maintained there must be religious harmony and tolerance in order to enhance the peace in the country. He noted that there was only one common denominator and that is the Supreme God who can create and take life, whoever does that is taking the natural laws into his hands

  • Bongos Ikwue meets Flavour in ‘The First Music Festival’

    Bongos Ikwue meets Flavour in ‘The First Music Festival’

    BRINGING two generation of artistes on one stage, Five Star Music and Golden Tulip Hotel have announced a plan to host a concert tagged The First Music Festival, come April 20th.

    In what has been described as a gathering of some of the country’s greatest vintage and young superstars, artistes in the lineup for the show include King Sunny Ade, Onyeka Onwenu, Bongos Ikwue, Tuface Idibia, Flavour Nabania, Kcee, Ice Prince, Olamide, Pasuma Wonder,

    Addressing a press conference at the hotel premises on Thursday, March 21, General Manager of the Hotel, Shousha Mohsen, said that the event comes with a simple goal to bring the biggest music stars in the country together for the best show in Nigeria, “a show that the world can only see in Golden Tulip, Festac, Lagos.”

    The music festival, he said, will provide a platform where old generation musicians will share the stage with the new ones thereby creating an opportunity for recognition of ground works of these music legends by the new generation artistes

    President of Five Star Music, Kingsley Okonkwo, aka Kcee of the defunct Kcee Presh fame, said that music fans across Nigeria should look at Festac as the place to be for historical success of what he termed a super festival.

    “We are looking forward to a great year with great music. With upwardly mobile, trendy and corporate individuals in attendance, the glamorous night of fun will bring to life the nostalgic memories of yesterday by honouring these heroes of the showbiz world. The audience, as part of the lineup for this event, will be treated to live performances, award presentation, comedy and red carpet entertainment,” Kcee further revealed

  • Argungu fishing festival

    Argungu Fishing festival has been scheduled to hold this month in Kebbi State. This fishing festival is long standing; the first one was held in 1934. The Argungu involves literally thousands of men and boys dashing into the local river intent on scooping up the largest fish in the river, the Nile perch.

  • iREP film festival opens tomorrow

    I-REPRESENT Documentary Film Forum will hold between tomorrow and 24, at the FREEDOM PARK, 1 Hospital Road, by Broad Street, Lagos. The theme for the iREP 2013 is Africa In Self-Conversation but the theme for this year’s edition is RECONNECTIONS.

    Over 30 popular and award winning documentaries sourced from notable and new filmmakers around Africa and its Diaspora, Europe and the United States, will be screened during the festival. The films all essentially treat themes that concern developments and realities around Africa and its peoples. Specifically, the films deal with issues of spirituality, religion, politics, culture, conflict, gender discrimination and affirmations, among others.

    Aside attendance by dignitaries in the Nigerian film circuit including our guest filmmakers from five other countries, there will be a reflection on the state of African films in the global cinema circuit as would be encapsulated in the keynote address by Prof Awam Amkpa, a filmmaker and teacher of Africana studies at New York University.

    Also, there will be the formal presentation of three books published by the Nigeria Film Corporation on the story of, and developments in the Nigeria film Industry. There will also be the presentation of awards to deserving individuals who have served the local industry diligently.

    A cocktail designed to provide a platform for networking and camaraderie between the Nigerian filmmakers and their counterparts from abroad, who will be participating in the festival will hold at 5pm in the Terrace of the Kongi’s Harvest Art Gallery.

    There will be also the Filmmakers Networking, an interactive session designed as an informal business session at which the various professional and technical issues affecting the film industry will be reflected upon. It will hold on Saturday, starting from 11am. Essentially issues of funding, especially co-production and funding opportunities that abound for the Nigerian film industry, will feature prominently.

    Experts who function in the film funding and distribution circuits in Europe and the USA as expected guests of the festival. This session, is partly facilitated by the Goethe Institut through its invitation of the Berlin-based Association of German Film Producers, AG DOK and those of the DOK FEST in Munich.

  • Ntdc, boat operators set for Borgu festival

    Ntdc, boat operators set for Borgu festival

    The Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) and the Association of Tourist Boat Operators have stepped up preparation for the Borgu International Cultural Festival slated for April.

    The festival, which is rooted in the rich culture and tradition of the famous Borgu Kingdom, is expected to attract the Borgu people from Ghana, Togo, Niger and Benin Republic will revive all aspects of the economic and cultural values of the people.

    Also to grace the occasion, which will have a special fishing segment, are members of the diplomatic corps, senior northern emirs and other traditional rulers in the country. A grand durbar, boat regatta and cultural troupe will add spice to the festival that may rival the Argungu fishing festival in Kebbi.

    Already, the Borgu kingdom is wearing a new look as the festival ground at Sabuke Square and the beachfront near the Kainji Lake Dam site is nearing completion.

    Significantly, the festival is endorsed by the NTDC as an international tourism forum, and, therefore, will be placed on the international tourism festival circuit within and outside Nigeria. As a plus to the richness of the festival, the vibrant Nigerian Tourist Boat Operators led by their president, Tarzan Balogun, has agreed to put up a signature showpiece event at Borgu beachfront.

     

  • Ajimobi rewards Adesokan, athletes to Eko Sports Festival

    Ajimobi rewards Adesokan, athletes to Eko Sports Festival

    IN line with Senator Abiola Ajimobi’s Transformational Agenda to encourage excellent performance and appreciate outstanding talents that have done the state proud in sports, Oyo State government has financially rewarded the state contingents to the 18th National Sports Festival.

    The Reward and Reception for the medal winning athletes took place at the Lekan salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan and was attended by dignitaries in the state including the Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi.

    Ajimobi praised the athletes for making the state proud and for displaying the spirit of pacesetting by winning the first gold medal at the ‘EKO 2012′.

    He commended the Commissioner for Youth and Sports for his vibrancy in the development of sports in the state and also appreciated the efforts of the Oyo State Sports’ Council, Sports officials, coaches and the entire sports family.

    The Governor further stated that the purpose of the reward is basically to fulfil his promise when the festival started and also to motivate and encourage Athletes that the state would strive hard to recognise and reward outstanding and excellent performances.

    Athletes that came back with gold medals smiled home with N750,000.00, Silver medallists were rewarded with cash prizes of N500.000.00 while bronze medallists N350,000.00 respectively.

    World record breaker at 2012 London Paralympics, Yakubu Adesokan also got a cash reward of N4 million and a slot to Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca) while his coach was rewarded with N2 Million.

    Last year, the Oyo State Government also rewarded its athletes to the Port Harcourt 2011 National Sports Festival. It turned out to be a good motivating factor for the contingents at EKO 2012.

    Oyo state Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr. Adedapo Lam-Adesina described the Oyo State Governor as a sports loving Governor who has deemed it fit to encourage Oyo sportsmen and women in all ramification.

    It should be recalled that the state gave N 500,000.00 to gold medalists as against N300,000.00 and gave them N750,000.00 on Friday, N350,000.00 to silver medalists as against N200,000.00 and gave them N500,000.00 and N150,000.00 to bronze medalists as against N100,000.00 and gave them N350,000.00 respectively and It is indeed an awesome thing that the ‘EKO 2012′ Athletes’ Reward would outstand that of ‘PORT HARCOURT 2011’.

    The State Government also rewarded Yakubu Adesokan with a sum of 4 million naira and a slot to Hajj (Pilgrimage) and also rewarded his coach with 2 Million naira.

  • Students hold festival

    Students hold festival

    Olabisi Onabanjo Univeristy (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, will be set aglow with festivities on February 28. A campus-based Spartan Entertainment Group will be hosting students in its annual social festival tagged “Spartans mask party”.

    Highlights of the ceremony, which is sponsored by Acada magazine, Modelling Academy and Nigezie, will feature dance contest, musical performance and fashion exhibition among others.

    A statement by the group’s media committee said students from other tertiary institutions, fashion designers and upcoming artists are expected to grace the ceremony.

  • Artistes thrill at countdown festival

    Along with the world’s top tourist destinations, Lagos State played host to a world class cross-over festival on new year’s eve. The bouquet of activities created by the Lagos State government to mark the Lagos Countdown 2012 came to a climax with a thrilling display of spectacular fireworks, laser beam and water projection as never seen before in the entire continent of Africa. This was complimented by rich musical performances by a long list of top Nigerian artistes which include Tu Face Idibia, Omawunmi, Darey, Tiwa Savage, Olamide, MI, Banky W, Skales, Burma Boy, Ice Prince, Brymo, Dr. Sid, DePrince, Durella, Davido, Inyanya, among others.

    The event, in its maiden edition, turned out to be the largest musical concert of the year in terms of artiste performance and attendance. Over 100,000 people converged on the Eko Atlantic City on the year’s eve to welcome the new year in true Lagos style, while millions of people experienced the event via the mass media as well as the social media.

    The Lagos Countdown was featured live on CNN along with other choice tourism and business locations such as Sydney, Tokyo, London and New York, thus elevating Lagos State’s tourism profile and projecting its potentials to the world. According to the organisers of the event, Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency, LASAA, the strategic intent for hosting the Lagos Countdown was to put Lagos on the global tourism map in the league of cities as Sydney, New York, London, Paris, Los Angelis and other major destinations that will be commemorating the cross over into the year 2013 in spectacular ways.”

    George Noah, the Managing Director, LASAA, while speaking with newsmen at the Eko Atlantic City, venue of the event, hinted that, “what the agency is doing on behalf of the state government is leveraging the proposition of Lagos as a premium destination for business and leisure.”   The Bar beach end of the Eko Atlantic City became a beehive of major commercial and leisure activities, thronged by thousands of domestic and foreign tourists who were entertained every evening by different artistes at the instance of some of the sponsors of the event who give away various mouth-watering freebees night after night.

    The celebration officially began on Thursday 20th December 2012 as the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola officially “switched on” the Lagos Festival of Lights, heralding the holiday season. In his remark at the flag-off ceremony, the Governor said that the Lagos Countdown was conceived to create an end of year cross-over tradition that engages citizens of the state, tourists and investors throughout the end of year holiday season.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Igali: Bayelsa set to host 2016 festival

    Igali: Bayelsa set to host 2016 festival

    The Technical Adviser, Wrestling Federation of Nigeria, Daniel Igali yesterday said that Bayelsa State is currently putting in place sporting infrastructure that will enable the state host the National Sports Festival as from 2016.

    Igali, who is the committee chairman on sports, Bayelsa State House of Assembly, while speaking to journalists inside the multi-purpose hall, University of Lagos, venue of the wrestling event, said that in the 2013 budget of the state, sports is fourth after roads, health and education.

    “In Bayelsa, the sports budget is the fourth largest in the state budget. We are now working on the upgrading of pitches, wrestling gym that will be of international standard; the construction has been awarded and it will be ready in May, 2013.

    “We have equally built a weightlifting gym. We are also looking at building a modern multi-purpose gymnasium, tartan tracks and building sporting facilities in the three senatorial zones of the state.

    For the wrestling events, Igali said: ”It has been fantastic, we have so far had a good competition. The first day, a great number competed; Delta State won a large number of gold medals, four gold medals out of seven, Bayelsa and Rivers States two and one gold each, it was a Niger/Delta affair.

    “The female wrestling was spread out; Lagos had gold, Imo and three gold for Bayelsa. Now freestyle is going on, and it looks like a south-south affair. I’m happy because there are a few athletes I have seen here that can make us proud in the next four to eight years.

    The former Olympic gold medalist in Sydney, Australia, 2000 said he was surprised that his state had made a lot of progress in the ongoing National Sports Festival despite the flood that affected their preparation towards the festival.

    “Bayelsa is looking ahead to hosting NSF in 2016. I also encourage states to improve on the standard of their equipment. We don’t know the importance of sports here, that is why we are trying to downplay the importance of equipment.”

    On the no-entry-fee-policy of this year’s festival, Igali said he had been on the campaign for an open festival for the past ten years, he however give thanks to God that the people that matters in sports had finally listened to their voices.

    “It’s something I have been clamouring for in the past ten years. Thank God we are there now,” he said.

    Igali, captained the Nigerian wrestling team to Canada to compete in the 1994 Commonwealth Games. He remained in the country while seeking refugee status due to political unrest in the Niger/Delta then. He acquired citizenship in 1998.

    In Canada, Igali won 116 consecutive matches wrestling at Simon Fraser University from 1997 to 1999. He placed fourth at the 1998 world championships.

    At the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, Igali won a gold medal in the Men’s 69kg freestyle wrestling. He represented Canada on the world stage. At the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, Igali won a gold medal in the Men’s 74 kg freestyle wrestling.