By; AMOS TAUNA, Kaduna
The Southern Kaduna people have expressed their commitment and determination to explore the arts, culture, sports, entertainment and tourism industries that they are endowed with for the overall peace, unity and development of the area.
The people have agreed to host the first of its kind “the Southern Kaduna Festival, SKFEST 2023”.
Briefing newsmen on activities lined up, the Chairman, Central Planning Committee,
Rear Admiral Ferguson Bobai (Rtd), in Kaduna on Tuesday, said, “Sub committees have been set up and have concluded arrangement to stage the maiden edition as part of the efforts to exploit the hitherto untapped Arts, Cultural, Economic, Sports and Tourism potentials for sustainable economic growth and development of our dear Southern Kaduna as we fondly refer to our place, and Kaduna State in general.”
He added, “The forthcoming events will take place on the 28th to 30th December, 2023, will no doubt epitomize the resolute commitment and determination to explore the Arts, Culture, Sports, Entertainment and Tourism industries because of the value they have on generations.”
He explained the near extinction of cultures of the people due to continuous hype on foreign cultural ideologies and the misconceived perception of globalization among the youths.
According to him, “This Festival therefore, is a veritable tool to mirror the cultural identities of the Southern Kaduna people, that is why the Central Planning Committee of SKFEST are saddled with the responsibility of planning the festivity as an avenue and potent vehicle for revitalizing our rich cultural heritage and values.”
The committee of the maiden edition, he said is calling on all Southern Kaduna sons and daughters to come out in mass and enjoy the festival as aptly captured by the theme “Experience Unity, Celebrate Culture”.
Focusing on the topic of this briefing, he added that the festival is an avenue for each Community Development Association (CDA) to participate effectively and display their peculiar cultural endowment.
“This is done to preserve and promote the abundance of each CDA’s cultural industry and to showcase not only investable opportunities in them, but also, to explore the wealth of job opportunities inherent in the cultural sector, especially for our teeming youths,” he emphasized.
He said that the major participants in SKFEST are the 57 CDAs of Southern Kaduna, Non – Governmental Organizations, youth groups and associations as well as other relevant stakeholders in the cultural sector, adding that the festival will feature competitive and non – competitive events.
He said the competitive events are
beauty pageant, traditional cooking competition, traditional wrestling,
indigenous fabric and fashion show.
Others, according to him are archery, marathon and football tournament.
The non-competitive events are command performance (to be held for all contingents on the 27th, such as carnival procession/parade, colloquium, arts and crafts cultural market that will be open to participations of private individuals, corporate organizations, youth groups and association, among others.
There will be free medical service, musical concert, arts and craft exhibition as well as
closing ceremony and certificates/award presentations.
He explained that the contingents would be camped at the Federal Technical College, Kafanchan where the opened market, musical concert and wrestling will be held, adding that the opening and closing ceremonies, football tournament and archery are scheduled to hold at the New Kafanchan Township Stadium.
The take-off of the 21 Kilometer Marathon race, according to him would be at Gidan Waya and end at the Patrick Yakowa roundabout, saying that other venues were events will take place are New Choice Hotel for Beauty Pageant and Traditional Cuisine competition while the Colloquium will take place at Throne Room.
He explained that each of the 10 competitive events would have a special guest, a chairperson, a coordinator, and a panel of professional judges drawn from their relevant specializations, to have credible winners in each of the events, pointing out that based on this thrust, it is important for all CDAs to participate in all the competitive events.
He said, ” Prizes and certificates will be awarded both for wining and participation. It is instructive to let you know that worthy sons and daughters of Southern Kaduna will be honored both posthumous and living in four categories for their outstanding contribution and service to Southern Kaduna, Kaduna State and Nigeria at large.”
