Mr Ifeanyi Eziukwu, the Director of Anambra Unity Festival (ANUFEST), says that the festival would create about 3,000 jobs, promote tourism, culture and economic activities in Anambra.
Eziukwu, who disclosed this at a news conference on Thursday in Abuja, said that the festival scheduled to hold from Sept. 21 to Sept. 27, is themed, ”Tomorrow Meets Today”.
The director said the festival would be held across the state’s 21 Local Government Areas, with pre-event activities scheduled ahead of the official opening.
Eziukwu said the festival, organized in partnership with the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), National Troupe of Nigeria (NTN) and other stakeholders, would promote unity, cultural heritage, tourism and youth empowerment.
“This festival alone is aimed to employ at least 3,000 people across all sections of the economy, from transportation, hospitality and media to printing and other businesses across the 21 local government areas, “he said.
Eziukwu said pre-event activities include inter-local government football competition, wrestling, cultural displays, tourism excursions, youth entrepreneurship programmes, master classes, business forums and creative events.
According to him, the organizers intend to make ANUFEST an annual event before expanding it to other parts of the country to further promote Nigeria’s tourism and cultural heritage.
Also speaking, the Strategic Partner and Legal Adviser to ANUFEST, Mr Ifeanyi Mbah, said the festival was initiated to promote Nigeria’s culture, heritage and tourism through strategic partnerships.
“ANUFEST is an event that we have tried to initiate for the purpose of promoting culture, heritage and tourism of our dear country, Nigeria,” he said.
On his part, the Director-General, NTDA, Mr Olayiwola Awakan, described cultural festivals as important platforms for preserving heritage, promoting tourism destinations and driving local economic growth.
Awakan said the festival aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the vision of the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy.
“The festival is designed to promote unity, encourage domestic tourism, attract investment, support hospitality and creative industries, create jobs and preserve Igbo cultural identity,” Awakan said.
He reaffirmed the NTDA’s commitment to partnerships that would strengthen Nigeria’s tourism sector and position Nigeria as Africa’s preferred tourism destination. (NAN).
