By Stanley Onyekwere
FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, has declared open the 10th edition of the Abuja Festival of Arts and Culture, popularly known as “ASOFEST’, with a call for preservation and promotion of cultural heritage.
Mahmoud said the FCT Administration was not only interested in the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage in the FCT, but desirous to see to the fulfilment of same.
She added that the FCTA understood the enormous role the different rich cultures, customs and tradition of FCT residents play in promoting peaceful co-existence amongst different ethnic nationalities.
The Minister, who expressed delight over the theme of this year’s edition: “Peaceful Co-existence, a Panacea for Economic Revival,” also noted that the theme was in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Renewed Hope Agenda’s effort at diversifying the economy from oil, while the citizens are encouraged to coexist in peace and harmony.
According to her:”As life evolves daily and for modernization purposes, we as the people must continue to create programmes and activities that defines who we are and celebrate our heritage and uniqueness.
“We must learn to tell our own stories to the outside world through the display and showcasing of our beautiful cultures. Most importantly, it is also a way of making our children to learn and appreciate their roots so that when they find themselves in other climes and different societies tomorrow, they will be able to relieve on their own roots and culture to their peers as well.”
Earlier in his welcome address, the Mandate Secretary, Social Development Secretariat, Ibrahim Aminu, emphasised that Abuja Festival of Arts and Culture, is also in fulfillment of one of the Mandates of the Social Development Secretariat, through the Department of Arts and Culture to Present, Promote and Preserve the rich cultural heritage of the FCT.
He, therefore, expressed the hope that the celebration of the festival would provide a sort of employment opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths in the FCT.
He said: “ASOFEST is a festival where the different area councils of the FCT showcases their varieties of distinctive delicacies and culinary skills, pottery, weaving of clothes, mats and hats, tie and dye, wrestling and other areas of strength in a fun filled competition.”
The highpoint of the event was different cultural displays drawn from the six Area Councils of the FCT, as participants compete in various traditional events.
