The 26th National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST 2012) might have ended in Ilorin, the capital city of Kwara State. But the critical lesson derived from the week-long cultural fiesta is the relevance of cretive enterprise in the search for panacea to Nigeria's socio-political and economic challenges.

The event attracted personalities from the arts and culture community, the academic and the polity, including the Special Adviser to the President on Ethics and Values, Mrs. Sarah Jibril.

NAFEST, otherwise known as a unity forum, was initiated in 1974. It was born out of the desire for true reconciliation, integration and national unity following the 30 months' hostility between Nigeria and the defunct Republic of Biafra. The event culminated into a yearly cultural fiesta that draws participation from all the states of the federation.

In spite of the meagre budget appropriated to the culture sector, especially at the national level, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) organisers of the festival, has remained consistent and committed to the promotion of the event.

This year, there was apprehension that the prevailing socio-political situation in the country would affect attendance, especially by the states. Surprisingly, virtually all the states of the federation made their presence felt at the feast.

More surprising, however, was the huge turnout of contingents from the northern part of the country. With the exception of Zamfara State, all other states from the North East, North West and the North Central made it to the festival.

The enthusiasm of the South/South contingents also attracted commendation. Not even the ravaging flood could deter them from showcasing their cultural heritage at the fest.

At the opening ceremony, President Goodluck Jonathan, said, "the festival theme, Culture, Peace and Economic Empowerment aptly captured the reality of the time, when Nigerians should relate every endeavour towards sustainability of stable polity and economic growth."

President Jonathan, who was represented by the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, hoped that as the country prepares to celebrate 100 years of its amalgamation, efforts should be intensified towards employing culture for the promotion of national integration and unity.

As the art community celebrated creative ingenuity and artistic prowess, the President commended participating states for making the festival a reference point.

"Let me at this point salute the tenacity, creativity and industry of all the contingents from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, other participating groups, festival officials and the spectators, for making this festival a spectacle and reference point."

The chief host, governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatai Ahmed, welcoming culture ambassadors, said, "the convergence of culture representatives from across the country in his domain, would impact greatly in the promotion of domestic tourism as well as benefit the ordinary people of the state."

The governor emphasised that the festival's potential as platforms for interactions, thus promoting peaceful co-existence of all ethnic groups.

His words: "NAFEST has continued to offer Nigerians of different socio-cultural backgrounds, the avenue to interact with one another, thus, breaking unfounded myths and fears.

Adding: "This way, peaceful co-existence among the different ethnic groups in the country is facilitated. As an avenue for sustaining, promoting and preserving cultural values, the festival will instil in us, great sense of pride in our heritage."

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Ibukun Odusote, represented Culture Minister who later declared the festival open. Duke reiterated his desire to reposition culture sector for economic empowerment.

"On coming to office as the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, it has been my desire to repackage, refocus and reposition the arts, culture and tourism sector to dovetail into a major platform for  the realisation of present administration's transformation agenda."

Immediately after the opening ceremony, which was held at the Metropolitan Square, other activities resumed at the State's Cultural Centre. Among early events were children's traditional moonlight games and traditional wrestling contest.

NCAC has in the last few years, incorporated children's programmes into NAFEST syllabus. This aims at instilling the spirit of the festival in the young ones, who are expected to be culture ambassadors in future. At this year's outing, children also featured in drawing, painting and essay competitions.

The former presenter of the rested Nigerian Television Authority's Tales by Moonlight, a TV children's programme, Mrs. Nkem Oseloka-Orakwue, who was one of the judges of the children's programmes, described the moonlight games as impressive.

She said, "some states did so well with their preparations and their children did well in dramatising their stories too, but others were just flat. They had uncles and aunts, who did the narration for them while they watched."

Commending NCAC for recording the events, she stressed that efforts should be made to document and broadcast the show to larger audience, considering its moral content. "It is not just enough to show these games at NAFEST. I noted that it was recorded and NCAC should not stop there. It should go ahead to document and telecast it so that other children could benefit from it."

Other activities that featured in the weeklong event included food fair, exhibition of traditional furnished apartment, indigenous fashion show as well as arts and crafts competition. The cultural market also attracted traders of indigenous fabrics, interior décor and fashion accessories as well as sellers of arts and crafts, from within and outside the country.

At the NAFEST colloquium, which traditionally holds on the second day of the festival, a minute silence was observed in honour of the late Ambassador Segun Olusola, whose contribution saw to the revitalisation of the festival. The organisers recalled his enthusiasm and commitment to the extent that, until his death, he attended every edition of the festival.

The component of the festival, tagged intellectual segment, attracted two papers titled Traditional Cultural Values And The Challenges Of Socio-Economic Transformation In Contemporary Nigeria by Professor Gbemisola Adeoti of the Institute of Cultural Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; and Cultural Indices In The Quest For Peace And Economic Empowerment In Nigeria presented by Dr. Oshita Osang Oshita, Director, Research and Policy Analysis, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Abuja.

In his presentation, Adeoti examined the country's socio-economic climate in the contemporary time and its underdevelopment indices. He submitted that in pursuit of a greater Nigeria, efforts should be made to engage ancient and modern approaches in addressing the challenges of development.

"A recovery of the past is necessary. After all, colonialism did not meet Africa as a clean slate upon which Europeans inscribed themselves and their cultures freely. The various ethnic groups before the advent of colonialism had established civilisations with identifiable system of healing, technology, architecture and arts."

He noted that no nation can develop without a tangible communication with the past and the present. "It is therefore a constructive engagement between then and now that Nigeria can achieve the goals of political stability and economic empowerment of its people. In the latter lies the ultimate wealth of the nation", he stated.

Presenting his paper, Oshita maintained that cultural harmony could only be guaranteed through good governance.

According to him, campaign for peace can only make impact on the people, when jobs are created and the masses empowered economically. "Thus, housing, health, education and basic utilities must be made more accessible and affordable to reduce the mounting urban social tension in Nigeria.

"In addition, state institutions have to be managed in an accountable and transparent manner; and access to justice has to be guaranteed to all. Indeed, we can deal better with the challenges of violent conflict and insecurity in Nigeria if we take time to understand their culturally determined roots."

The highlight of the segment was the unveiling of NAFEST Colloquium for the 2010 and 2011 editions.

Speaking to The Guardian at the close of events, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, NCAC, Mr. M.M Maidugu, commended states for defying all odds to participate at the event. He described the turnout as impressive.

"We are looking at it against the background of the challenges we have at the moment. The turnout especially from the perspective of number of contingents was marvellous. Kaduna State came with 434 participants while the second to that came with over 300. Most states had an average of over 200, which is exceedingly a good turnout.

With River State being the overall best, Ogun and Ondo states have indicated interest to host the next edition in 2013. This might be an opportunity for Ogun State to intensify interest to host the nation, having failed in 2012 in spite of its early interest during the 2011 edition, which was held  in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

Speaking on hosting rights and how it affects state's preparations, Executive Secretary, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Dr. Barclays Ayakoroma, said successful or poor outings depend largely on early notification of a potential host. He therefore urged organisers to device means of communicating to hosting state two years ahead, for adequate preparations.