Etisalat Supports Creativity At Ake Arts And Book Festival

By Uche Peter
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Lagos, Nigeria, November 24, 2015: Nigeria's most innovative and fastest growing telecommunications company, Etisalat, has further demonstrated commitment to creativity and talent development in the country with support for this year's edition of the annual Ake Arts & Book Festival, a gathering of eminent authors and writers in the historic city of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

The company restated its commitment to uplifting and promoting creative endeavours like literature, and declared its pride in being one of the major sponsors of the event because it shares in the passions and aspirations of the literary society.

Speaking on the sponsorship, Modupe Thani, Head, Events and Sponsorship, Etisalat Nigeria, said the Ake Arts and Book Festival like the Etisalat Prize for Literature, reiterates Etisalat’s vision of promoting passion, nurturing talents and providing a platform for Africans to communicate ideas and tell their own stories.

According to her, the Etisalat Prize for Literature wholly embodies the company’s vision, which is to identify and celebrate writers and literature enthusiasts from across the continent and beyond in order to give credence and honor to ‘home-grown’ talents while also rewarding new entrants and encouraging further participation in this area

Speaking also at the event, Mrs. Lola Shoneye, Director, Ake Arts and Book Festival, said the festival which is in its third edition has grown in size and importance, attributing the success to the support from sponsors like Etisalat Nigeria. Her words: “Our sponsors have in no small measure contributed to the success of this festival, sponsors like Etisalat and others don't just throw money at us, but they also participate at the festival.” She disclosed that the festival has welcomed over 200 guests in the last two editions, held over 150 events, and directly reached more 10,000 people. This year, she added, the festival’s guests came from 18 countries across the world.

Commenting on the festival during the opening ceremony, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, the governor of Ogun State, commended the effort of Etisalat and other sponsors of the festival for their contribution to the growth and development of the coming generation. “The importance of literature and arts cannot be over-emphasised. So, its gives me great pleasure to see people from countries within Africa and beyond gathered here to promote literature and arts,” he said.