By Taire Okudolo
The Creative Industry Festival (CIFEST), earlier scheduled for February in Lagos, has been postponed to May, according to Mr Felix Duke, President, Creative Industry Group (CIG).
Duke announced this on Wednesday during a visit to the Lagos office of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
According to the President, CIFEST, which was postponed following COVID-19 regulations on the directives of the Lagos State Government, will hold between May 1 and May 7, at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos.
He said the essence of the visit was to strengthen partnership with credible media organisation as NAN in a bid to foster the goals of CIG.
“We know NAN is a viable medium to partner with, from experience.
”We have had collaborations with NAN since our inception in 2018 and have every reason to be grateful for it.
“This visit is to stress the importance of NAN to ensure that CIFEST gets the necessary publicity to make the festival a huge success,” he said.
Duke added that the festival would bring together all the sectors within the creative industry to showcase Nigeria’s potentials and talents capable of contributing massively to the nation’s economy.
“Actors, dancers, comedians, DJ’s, writers, directors, musicians, promoters, photographers and others arms of creativity in the background will come together.
“Foreign countries will also have the opportunity to showcase their creative sector during the CIFEST, ” he said.
Also speaking, Head of Operations, NAN, Lagos, Mr Ephraim Sheyin, lauded the CIG delegation for the visit, and said that NAN would support its aspirations.
He advised the group to encourage stakeholders in the industry to project positive aspects of Nigeria, rather than playing up the negative happenings in the country.
“It is unfortunate that most of our Nigerian films tend to project the citizens as ritualists, criminals, or women beaters.
“Clearly, this is not always true. We have positive aspects of life which should be projected and the industry has what it takes to achieve this.
“We shall do our best to encourage your group in the projection of our country in good light and as good people with attractive culture and lifestyle,” he said.
According to Sheyin, NAN has an open door policy to any group that is in the business of enhancing Nigeria’s image to the world.
NAN reports that the CIG team included popular actor, Emeka Ossai, Mrs Capriz Duke Toyosi Ololade and John Odigie Aigbefoh , while the NAN team included Alh. Abdulfatai Babatunde, head, newsroom, and Mr Joseph Idika, Head of Entertainment.
(NAN)
