The need for youths in the State to be properly involved in the creative arts industry was the cross of the message at the Delta International Theatre, Arts and Crafts Festival DITAFEST 2024 held at the Maryam Babangida Leisure Park Asaba.
The Member representing Oshimili South, Hon Bridget Anyafulu stated this while declaring the event open.
Hon Anyafulu congratulated the State Government for its indulgence in tourism noting that creative arts foster unity and economic development in a State as it creates wealth and provides jobs to the people.
She called for more collaboration between the government and youths to key into creative arts to foster the MORE Agenda of the government.
The Director of the DITAFEST event Mr Alex Akpuh said the initiative was to promote Theatre, arts and creativity in the state adding that the essence of the festival was to flow with the government’s goal of developing the creative economy by harnessing and promoting the potentials that constitute creative industry through performance, lecture, interaction, exhibition and creative investment forum among others.
The event features lectures presentation on topics, role of Local governments on creative arts and role of state government on tourism by the Director of Culture in Ministry of culture Mr Friday Anazia and Mr Bodje Elias who represented the General manager of the state tourism board.
The functioning permanent secretary Mr Henry Demesi and …..Mr S.E.A Bello in their goodwill messages encouraged the organisers of the event not to relent but to involve all tiers of the government in the creative industry.
The highlight of the event was the display of cultural dances by different ethnic groups and schools, song presentations, and creative crafts among others.