Ekiti State Government has expressed determination to host, for the first time, the annual National Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP) convention.
This will be part of its efforts to unfold Ekiti State’s entertainment and tourism sector.
The Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism in Ekiti State, Prof. Rasaki Bakare, made the disclosure at a media briefing in Lagos on Tuesday.
The briefing was after a crucial meeting between officials of the Ekiti State Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism and National Executive Members of NANTAP.
According to Bakare, the event scheduled for September 2021 has been approved by the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.
“The idea was to further create an avenue to enrich the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) base against solely relying on the Federal Government for funds.
“Ekiti State Government, under the leadership of Gov. Fayemi, has endorsed hosting of the 2021 NANTAP convention, which will be held in September in Ado, and it’s a big event for us.
“Over time, we have tried to come up with alternative means of raising money to enrich our IGR base in the state, beyond going to Abuja monthly to get money.
“One thing we have in abundance is culture, tourism, and arts; so, all we need to do is to strategize to see how we can make the best use of these commodities for proper marketing for the economic prosperity of the state,” Bakare, who is also a Professor Performing Arts, said.
According to him, one of the ways to achieve the goal is to make Ekiti State become a destination of choice, of preference in conferences, festivals, carnivals, AGMs, and other activities.
He added that such events would extensively increase the volume of tourists coming into the state, and place Ekiti on the right pedestal, hence the reason behind the intent to host NANTAP.
“Just recently, we hosted the mountain hike event.
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“So, whatever can drive human traffic in Ekiti is good for us because that is what we need to build the hospitality, tourism, and the art industry and make them more economically viable,” he said.
In response, Mr. Isreal Eboh, National President of NANTAP, applauded Ekiti State Government for the bid to host, adding that for the first time, the body would combine two events.
According to him, the investiture of Fellows of new members and wrapping up of programs for “NANTAP at 30” will hold during the Ekiti convention billed to take place from Sept. 15 to Sept. 18, 2021.
Eboh described the event as a “smart decision that will bring over 2000 tourists to Ekiti for a 4- day convention”, assuring members that it would be a highly successful convention and first of its kind.
Also, Mr. Ganiyu Titilope, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Ekiti State, assured that the events and many more to come would place the state as an attractive destination that would significantly impact tourism in the state.
