Entertainment
Participant Hails NAFEST 2018
The National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) 2018 themed “Our Festivals, Our Heritage’ which was held from the 21st to 27th of October 2018 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State was indeed an exciting festival.
Speaking with the Delta State Head of Performing Arts Department, Mrs Akani Siri stated that NAFEST was a unity festival with the aim of bringing the various cultures of Nigeria together.
Mrs Siri shed more light on what the NAFEST festival was all about, stating that NAFEST has both competitive and non-competitive events, which the states participate in, saying also that different states usually pick the events they would participate in after the syllabus has been sent to them.
Mrs Siri who said the festival was made up of different types of events like, dance drama; traditional wrestling ;traditional cuisines which is particular to each state; craft expo; and also tales by moonlight by children which was added to the events this year, has said that all these depend on what the national council wants, with different centers for these events.
She said that NAFEST was an annual festival, with the sole motive of bringing Nigerian cultures together, saying the festival unites our heritage and our ‘fast dying cultures’, which we do not want to go into extinction.
She stated that NAFEST aims at promoting national development, harnessing our culture, bringing them from their raw state, polishing and working on them, and see if they can be a source of income by exporting some of these cultural values.
Siri went further to explain that if a festival like NAFEST was not held, then some of our cultures would just be stories to tell to our children. “It’s preserving, promoting and documenting our culture that is what NAFEST is all about”, she said.
The commissioner of Arts and Tourism Delta state, Mr Emmanuel Chinye also spoke on NAFEST being a means of uniting every culture within Nigeria, saying that NAFEST is the biggest festival in Nigeria.
Speaking on the reason most states didn’t attend as on Thursday, the commissioner said it was due to some logistics, “sometimes some logistics might warrant this, especially during an election period.”
At the closing/Award ceremony of NAFEST 2018, which was held at the Port Harcourt Sharks Stadium in Rivers State, so many exciting cultural activities were displayed and wonderful awards were given to deserving states.
The participating states which were twenty four(24) in attendance included Abia; Anambra; Bayelsa;Benue; Delta;Ebonyi;Edo; Enugu; Gombe; Jigawa; Kaduna; Kano; Katsina; Kogi; Kwara; Lagos; Niger; Ogun; Ondo; Osun; Rivers (host); Sokoto; Taraba; and the Federal Capital Territory Abuja.
Gideon Victory
The Lennox K. Black International Prize for Excellence in Medicine is a prestigious accolade awarded by Thomas Jefferson University, recognising outstanding individuals.
The actress was honoured with the Lennox K. Black International Prize for Excellence in Medicine by Thomas Jefferson University in America in recognition of her outstanding contributions to social activism and impact through her work.
This remarkable achievement, they said, highlights her dedication to societal well-being and marks her as the first Black recipient of this distinguished award.
The Tide Entertainment reports that the Lennox K. Black International Prize for Excellence in Medicine is a prestigious accolade awarded by Thomas Jefferson University, recognising individuals who have made significant contributions to the medical field, promoting scientific discovery and advancements.
Named after Lennox K. Black, a Canadian manufacturing executive known for his philanthropic efforts and service on various boards, including Thomas Jefferson University, the prize celebrates excellence in medical innovation and global contribution to health and medicine.
The actress is renowned for her activism and impactful work in areas concerning women’s health and rights, including her efforts to combat issues like fistula and gender-based violence.
According to the award organisers she has been instrumental in bringing about social change through her films and campaigns. They added that her work extends beyond borders, affecting lives and policies internationally, embodying the spirit of the Lennox K. Black International Prize.
On receiving the award, Stephanie expressed her gratitude and reaffirmed her commitment to using her platform for social good.
“This recognition goes beyond me; it is for all the women and girls fighting for a healthier, safer world. It amplifies our message and our work. It strengthens my resolve to continue advocating for gender equality, social justice, and improved maternal and reproductive health in Africa,” she said
Susan Aldunge, Interim President of Thomas Jefferson University, admired the actress, saying, ‘‘Your ability to educate while humbly addressing the cultural obstacles impeding progress for young women is commendable. Your intelligent, personal take on the necessary human rights changes has deeply impacted all lucky to encounter you. Congratulations once more on this well-deserved award and the acknowledgement of your efforts.’”
Ms Aldunge further said that Thomas Jefferson University, a leader in medical education and research, hosts the award to underscore its mission of improving lives through innovation in health care.
‘‘The university is proud to honour Stephanie Linus, whose work aligns with Jefferson’s values of creativity, collaboration, and compassion in pursuing excellence in medicine and beyond.
“Awarding the Lennox K. Black International Prize to Stephanie Linus celebrates her achievements and signals a broader recognition of the importance of social activism in medicine and health,” she added.
“Her pioneering efforts continue to inspire and effect change, paving the way for a healthier, more equitable world’’.
Stephanie, who was named Chairperson of the Nigerian Official Selection Committee (NOSC) for the Best International Feature Film (IFF) category of the Oscars in August 2023, is best known for her 2015 advocacy movie ‘Dry’, which tells the story of a 13-year-old girl whose parents marry her off to a 60-year-old man, with devastating consequences.
Ilebaye’s revelation came just after Phyna had publicly called out the organizers for withholding some of her prizes.
Phyna, who revealed this to Newsmen insinuated that Ilebaye broke the gender code by announcing that she got her full prize money.
She also stressed that she would continue to demand for her balance, stating that she worked hard for the money during the show’s 72-day duration.
“I believe I should at least get what I worked so hard for 72 days. You all suddenly remembered your alert screenshots and IG Live………… Common……one among others is 1BTC which is over 80m in today’s market.
“To those who got their money in full
I’m happy for you. As a poor man’s child, let me ask for my money and other items remaining.,” She added.
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