SONIFES holds November 15, preaches strength in diversity

The 10th edition of Songs of Nigeria Festival (SONIFES) will hold on Thursday, November 15, 2018.

The festival seeks to promote peaceful coexistence among Nigerians, leveraging on the country’s diversity, which the organisers described as “our strength.”
 
Speaking recently on the upcoming event, the Executive Secretary of SONIFES, Chuks Akamadu, said it was sad that Nigerians allow diversity, which should be their strength, to cause division among themselves.

With focus on Harnessing the Beauty of Our Diversity, the festival holds at the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, and would be chaired by the wife of Nigeria’s first head of state, Lady Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi, while the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, will give the keynote address.

Seven Up Bottling Company Limited is partnering with Afrocultour to bring the Songs of Nigeria Festival, to celebrate Nigeria’s diverse culture expressed in songs, music, dance and drama

According to Akamadu, “this year, we decided to speak to the conscience of the average Nigerian. We are going to use Nigerian songs, poems, dance, drama and a cocktail of art forms to say that there is beauty in our diversity and that this is the time to harness our diversity for optimal growth and development of the nation. That is what SONIFES 2018 has set out to achieve and we are quite excited that Seven Up Bottling Company Limited in their wisdom saw sense in what we are trying to project and has come in as official sponsors of this year’s edition.”
 
Senior Brand Manager, Seven Up Bottling Company Limited, Segun Ogunleye, expressed delight at the partnership, saying his company is always willing to support programmes that promote Nigeria’s diverse culture in several ways. 
 
“On October 1, 1960, the first bottle of refreshment rolled off our line in Lagos. We always say that day represents a big shift in Nigeria’s destiny and Seven Up continues to be an integral part of Nigeria’s destiny. So, how else can a corporate decide to tap into the diversity of the country? How else can a corporate choose to identify with our great nation? We see SONIFES 2018 as a big vehicle to further engage and harness the diversity of the country for growth and development,” Ogunleye said.