Lagos State has emerged as the overall winner of the competitive events for the 35th National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST).

This was announced during the festival’s closing ceremony, held at the Onikan Stadium, Lagos.

The festival, which attracted delegates from 29 states, engaged individuals in various cultural competitions, including traditional cuisine, drama, music, indigenous fabric and fashion.

Rivers and Bayelsa got the second position, while Ekiti took the third position.

Kano State emerged fourth, while Ogun got the fifth overall position.

Olusegun Runsewe, director-general, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), organiser of the festival, commended states’ participation.

Mr Runsewe said the competitive events for the 35th edition had been the most competitive in the nation’s history.

Rivers also won an award as the state with the largest contingents.

Rivers, Ekiti and Delta, won states with the best costumes, respectively, while Zamfara, Imo and Oyo bagged awards as the most disciplined and well-behaved states.

For the most improved state at NAFEST, Kwara, Abia, and Katsina won, while Niger, Ondo and Kano states got the most creative innovation in design, packaging and presentation.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kogi and Taraba won the best entrepreneur states.

For the most creative and innovative in design, packaging and presentation, Niger, Kano, and Ondo states won.

Benue, Edo and Osun won the best states in digital marketing of arts, while Nasarawa, Jigawa and Ebonyi got the best in synergy and teamwork.

Yobe, Bayelsa, Ekiti and Kaduna won the most consistent states.

For the children’s music and dance competitions, Bayelsa got the fifth position, Ebonyi came fourth, Ogun emerged third, Lagos came second while Rivers got the first position.

For traditional board games, Delta, Edo and Ogun got the fourth position, Oyo state came third, Ekiti came second, while Bayelsa and Lagos state got the first position.

For the traditional cuisine, indigenous fabric and fashion competitions, Delta and Lagos had the fifth position, Oyo state came fourth, Rivers emerged third, Ekiti came second, and Bayelsa took the first position.

Also, in the Indigenous materials for interior decoration competition, Delta came fifth, Lagos and Ekiti state won the fourth position, Rivers got third , while Bayelsa and Kano took the second and first positions, respectively. 

(NAN)