Read how Ekiti Youths Parliament Speaker behaved in Ekiti DG Culture's office

Ojo-Lanre tasks Ekiti Youth Parliamentarians on cultural value legislation
The Director -General, Ekiti State Council for Arts and Culture, Ambassador Wale Ojo-Lanre has called on Ekiti State Youths Parliament to gird its loins and enact strong legislation that can  reinforce the cultural value orientation policy of Governor John Kayode Fayemi
Ambassador Ojo -Lanre made this called while playing host to a delegation of the members of the 3rd Session of Ekiti Youth Parliament led by the Right Honourable Speaker, Oluwatobilola Fatunla to his office
Ambassador Ojo - Lanre pointed out that the inauguration of  Ekiti Youth Parliament  by Governor Fayemi was a sign of his immense respect, regard love and genuine interest at involving the youths of Ekiti in policy generation, formulation  and implementation
He pointed said that if Governor Fayemi did not believe in government of total inclusion, he would have not have encouraged the institutionalisation of Ekiti Youths Parliament as an integral part of his administration.
'Hence, I am calling on you all to gird your loins and rise above the expectation  of Dr Fayemj by putting into place strong and elastic legislations which will enhance and reinforce the cultural - value orientation of JKF-2"
Ambassador Ojo - Lanre stated that " you are the leaders of tomorrow. Governor Fayemi has entrusted on your shoulders the onerous task of moulding your tomorrow today, it is left for you to take sustainable actions via legislation and advocacy in shaping the future of this state as regards the conducts of today's youths who are tomorrow's leaders and elders '
 He admonished the youth parliamentarians to set standard and benchmark in behavioural pattern as they are the ambassadors and light-bearers of the state
Ambassador Ojo -Lanre said" the task of accelerated cultural- value reorientation lies heavily on you. You are the best agents who can salvage and prevent the total obliteration of our cultural values system. And this is why the Ekiti State Council for Arts and Culture is ready and willing to partnering with you in ensuring the revitalization of the pristine culture of Ekiti State among the Youths as you are the change agents of this "
Responding, Rt Hon. Toba Fatunla applauded the Council for its culturally packaged reception which was laced with drumming, songs and messages emphasising the rich culture of Ekiti State.
He congratulated the Council for adding value to the image of Ekiti State  when it won the Best Most Creative and Innovate State in Nigeria at the last National Arts and Culture Festival, NAFEST, held in Benin Edo State
Rt Hon Fatunla  revealed that " we are here today not only to just parade ourselves as the representatives of the youth but most essential to seek for a purposeful synergy which can bring about a pristinely cultural- value revolution among the youths .'
He pointed out " we know that to who much is given, much is expected. We also realised the extent of the injury which social vices have wreaked in our society especially among the youths. We realised the weight and the burden of expectation from us. Hence, we are reaching out to the essential stakeholders who will be partners in this process of value reformation, reorientation and rejuvenation '
Rt Hon Fatunla said " We realised that we lost to the grim hand of vices just because we abandoned our pristine cultural values, we sacrificed those sacrosanct moral and cultural values which bestowed unto us a fairly saintly society for fake civilization, globalisation, indoctrination and vogue. Hence, our determination to commence our networking by visiting the Ekiti -State Council for Arts and Culture. And we are happy that we are here."

Afe Babalola selfish on Ekiti Airport project! By Wale Ojo - Lanre

Is it for Afe Babalola?
( A post by Wale Ojo - Lanre in June 2016 supporting the planting of an Airport in Ekiti State )
I AM SAD! Ekiti matter on my mind
Do you want me to be happy? No
I am not happy at all
And I am not
They are my friends
24 of them
Arrived Nigeria
From Trinidad and Tobago
Not so rugged people
Visited Badagry
Spent 5 days
Spent quite much money there
 in hotels and bought a lot of Souvenirs
They were in Lagos
Love to visit  Ekiti State
visit the land of pounded yam
See Ire where Ogun God of Iron descended into the earth crust
Ikogosi on their mind
Arinta Waterfall, Ipole floor  on the list
Erio, the new Jerusalem was there
Usi, where the first Catholic Mass was held in 1913
Okutagbokutaleri in Ado included
Igede Stream, the Source of Osun River
Ero dam, the third-largest man-made a dam in Nigeria
But they cannot venture into Ekiti land
The trip from Badagry to Ekiti
The traffic chaos all the route to Ife
( Badagry -Mile 2, Lagos - Ibadan, Iwo road - ife )
Just because they want to visit a great land
Don't you have an Airport in Ekiti?  They asked
No, we have one in Akure?
I mean in Ado Ekiti, the capital city of your state?
No, we don't? I responded
They checked the flight routes to Akure
The Arik flight is not there!
'Sorry, we cannot make it to your state!
Your state is a paragon of tourism
You need an airport no matter the dimension
It is because of the need
Not for fanciful sake "
So my state was edged out from the dollar rain
They are just one group
And I was thrown into sadness
That my people
always allow politics, sentiment and individualism
To affect the decision on common interest
I remember when Chief Segun Oni was the Governor of the state
The Airport would have been constructed
But the then Minister wanted it in his town
which is not geographically suitable for it
then it meant to promote a certain huge agricultural project
But it was killed by the Fayemi's government
But who could have done it if he had secured a second term
For I met him in the company of Remi Oladoye
In his office in Ado Ekiti
After the inauguration of Ikogosi Warm Resort
He promised to continue the Airport project of my boss
And when the present Governor brought the idea
Which I supported with full strength
Despite my political difference with him
I  know it is a good one
For Ekiti state  and he will not take it along after his four years
Like the Governor's House in Oke Ayoba built by Fayemi
But we  killed it because of politics, personal hatred, perception about the viability and other erroneous reasons
That is how we have killed many programmes, schemes and projects
On the alter of personal animosity, political hatred, unreasonable sentiment, sheer opposition not thinking about the future of Ekiti
Malaysia is a country of 25 million
It has only 62 airports servicing special area of needs
I am not happy but sad
That with the enormous agricultural potentialities in Ekiti
With the preponderance of tourism assets
we cannot see the reasons
Why we should have an Airport in Ekiti
That there is an Aiport in Akure makes no meaning to me
Akure may not need the Airport
They have oil which brings the state fund
So they don't need it for a purpose
But Ekiti need it for a purpose!
If Governor Fayose's government has been hamstrung
from constructing an Airport
I would have done it if I could
But I will support any individual
Who can do this
Who can and will make me happy
For   Ekiti deserves Airport
No matter what
And Baba Afe to the rescue

Read how Ekiti State won Ist Most Creative and Innovative State in Nigeria at NAFEST 2019

Read how Ekiti State won  Ist Most Creative and Innovative State in Nigeria at  NAFEST 2019 

.......Otunba Runsewe commends Gov Fayemi's cultural vision 

The image of Ekiti State soared to high heaven at the closing ceremony of the National Arts and Culture Festival, NAFEST 2019 held at the University of Benin Sports Complex when Ekiti State was announced as the winner of the First Position as the Most Culturally Creative  and Innovative State  in Nigeria 

The Governor of Ekiti State Dr Kayode Fayemi had mobilised the Ekiti State Council for Arts and Culture under Ambassador Wale Ojo - Lanre to lead a 48- member contingent including the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Ganiyu Titilope Ibrahim  to Benin, Edo State to join other states in participating   in the 39th Edition of the National Arts and Culture Festival.

The Ekiti Contingent had gone to the event with the major aim of showcasing the preparation of Royal  Pounded Yam in line with the theme of this year's NAFEST: Our Royalty. Our Pride 

Armed with two mortals, four pestles, bags of condiments of local soup preparation, seasoned bushmeat and set of Ekiti farm yam tubers, the contingent headed for Benin to culturally showcase the beauty of Ekiti  pounded yam 

The entry of Ekiti Contingent was markedly noticed at the Federal Government Girls  College Benin which was the camp for the delegates when the contingent displayed a welcome cultural show to the amazement of others participants who were there before them.

To further demonstrate the contingent's tenacity of purpose, it immediately set up a kitchen at the Eweka Hall where pounded yam was made available at a la carte 

Having established a culturally dignified presence at the Camp , the Ekiti Contingent shifted attention to the Arts and Craft Exhibition Ground at Cultural Center Benin City where it established a culturally beautiful pavilion manned by the President of Ekiti State Association of Professional Artists, Mr Jacob Ayodele who ensured that the beauty of Ekiti indigenous arts and crafts was exposed to the teaming participants who scrambled to visit Ekiti Pavilion where Ekiti State Cultural Troupe maintained glorious musical presence.

However, the glory of Ekiti State shone brightly at the presentation of the Royal Cuisines by all the participating States of the Federation held at the Benin Museum. 

The Ekiti Pavilion discerned itself from the others by its sheer employment of culturally local contents both in the construction of its pavilion, cooking utensils, soup ingredients, method of preparation and serving to the process of eating the pounded yam by the King whose mouth must not be seen while eating.

The creativity and innovation  which Ekiti State Contingent injected into the packaging and presentation of its content  at the event did not only impressed the adjudicators but overwhelmed the imagination of Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, DG, National Council for Arts and Culture , Abuja, who publicly acknowledged this when he led  a team of distinguished guests on a visit to Ekiti Cuisine Pavilion.

Otunba Olusegun Runsewe who announced the Award of 1st position as the Most Creative and Innovative State in terms of culture in Nigeria commended Governor Fayemi for his brilliant cultural vision which has continued to glitter globally.

Nigeria Ambassador in Hungary commends Ekiti State Standing Cultural Troupe You shored up Nigeria's image in Europe- Ambassador Eniola Ajayi

Nigeria Ambassador in Hungary commends Ekiti State Standing Cultural Troupe
The Ekiti State Standing Cultural Troupe has been described as a pan - Nigeria cultural team which employs traditional music and dance to add value to Nigeria's image home and abroad
The Nigeria Ambassador to Hungary, Dr Eniola Ajayi disclosed this  while bidding the Ekiti State Standing Cultural Troupe goodbye at the Nigerian House, Budapest
She revealed ' I must confess that you are fantastic. You made Nigeria proud. You have shored up the image of Nigeria in Europe and also showcased to the world that Nigeria is not only the land of good people but of wonderful culture and songs "
She said that the Nigeria Embassy in Hungary invited the Ekiti State Standing Cultural Troupe for the celebration of the 59th Independence Day of Nigeria based on its performance pedigree and " I am happy that you did not only lived up to expectation but performed awesomely well beyond our expectation"
Ambassador Ajayi pointed out that the Ekiti State Standing Cultural Troupe dazzled the foreign diplomats and guests with the Unity Dance, which showcased the import of collective responsibility, harmonious cohabitation, ethnic reinforcement and leveraging on diversity perception at building a strong Nigeria
She lauded the group for not coming to Hungary only to spread the cultural heritage of Ekiti but showcased a pan- Nigeria musical concert which cultivated love, passion, interest and respect to the nation
Ambassador Ajayi said that Ekiti State Standing Cultural Troupe put up spectacular and fascinating performances both on the 4th of October when the Embassy of Nigeria celebrated 59th Independence Day and on the 6th October when the Troupe held its ' exciting and grand Command performance.
Ambassador Ajayi lauded Ekiti State Governor, Dr John Kayode Fayemi and Erelu Bisi Fayemi for nurturing and empowering an Ekiti Cultural Troupe which is not only making waves on the global front but which is employing creative dancing and singing to shore up the image of Nigeria and cultivating respect and honour to Ekiti
She commended the Director-General, Ekiti State Council for Arts and Culture, Ambassador Wale Ojo - Lanre and the Permanent Secretary of the Council, Alhaji Ganiyu Titilope Ibrahim for leading a disciplined Cultural Troupe which bears the hallmark of excellence
Ambassador Ajayi said  'Honesty, I am very proud of you. You are a  cultural asset to Ekiti State and Nigeria .My colleagues have been calling me in appreciation of your performance. God bless you all. Bear my regards to Nigerians and good people of Ekiti State. Safe trip back home "

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