The Executive Secretary, Songs of Nigeria Festival (SONIFES), Chuks Akamadu has explained that the need to drive patriotism among Nigerians at a time many are losing faith based on a number of challenges confronting the country, formed the basis for the choice of the theme ‘Harnessing the beauty of our diversity.’
Akadamu who made the disclosure at a briefing in Lagos, also spoke on how state and non-state actors have been integrated into the programming outlined for the festival.
“The theme for this year’s edition captures the essence of the festival. This is because we believe that at a time like this, all patriotic Nigerians, individuals, groups and corporate citizens, have a duty to deploy ball tools and platforms available to them for the urgent task of national healing, by optimising the abundant benefits of our diversity.
“With 2018 SONIFES, we aspire to sensitise the public on the need for non-state actors to effectively complement the Federal Government’s efforts at stabilizing the nation; for it has become obvious that we cannot continue to enforce national unity. A more desirable, rewarding option is for us to begin to promote rather than enforce national unity,” the SONIFES Executive Secretary said.
According to Akadamu, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, has been penciled down as a Keynote Speaker who will speak on the topic, ‘The imperative of harnessing the beauty of our diversity’, while the wife of the first military Head of State, Lady (Dr) Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi shall be presiding over.
“And as part of arrangements to make this initiative a worthwhile event, we shall, alongside our official sponsor, Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc, deploy a number of creative and targeted programmes that include music, drama, dance-drama, and a cocktail of other cultural performances, among others,” he said.
