Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy

The Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy is a newly restructured ministry from the former nomenclature of Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism of the immediate past administration, it is being headed by a Honorable Commissioner and an administrative leadership of a Permanent Secretary, the ministry consists of eight departments namely;

1. Department of Administrations and Supplies
2. Department of Finance and Accounts
3. Department of Culture
4. Department of Visual Arts
5. Department of Creative Economy
6. Department of Performing Arts
7. Department of Business and Innovations
8. Department of Planning, Research, Statistics and Documentation

To become a leading model in Nigeria for cultural preservation, cultural diplomacy and mainstreaming of creative works into the economic development of the state as well as ensuring that Ekiti State’s unique identity enriches the world.

To preserve, promote and develop Ekiti State’s rich cultural heritage as well as harness the creativity of its people.

Diligence, resourcefulness and transparency

The Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy undertakes a wide range of roles and responsibilities to achieve its mission and vision. These include:

• Cultural Preservation: Safeguarding and documenting Ekiti’s traditional customs, languages, art, and artifacts.
• Cultural Promotion: Organizing cultural festivals, exhibitions, and workshops to celebrate and educate about Ekiti’s heritage.
• Talents discovery and promotion: The Ministry is also saddled with the responsibility of unearthing budding talented Ekiti indigenes and creating a platform for them to showcase these talents and market them for job creation.
• Cultural Diplomacy: Collaborating with other states and nations to share Ekiti’s culture and foster international partnerships.

Ekiti State is a homogeneous state; each town contributes to the state’s cultural milieu through distinct customs, dances, music, and art forms. The Ministry plays a pivotal role in preserving and promoting this rich cultural heritage through cultural events, workshops, and educational programs.

Ekiti State is blessed with rich cultural, heritage sites and festivals, such as Udiroko festival in Ado Ekiti, Ogun Onire Grove, Amomo Festival and Osun Osogbo river source in Igede-Ekiti. The Ministry actively works on developing these attractions, improving infrastructure, and promoting Ekiti as a prime Cultural destination.

While Ekiti State’s potential in Culture and Creative Arts is vast, it is not without its challenges. Infrastructure development, including road networks and accommodations, remains a priority. Additionally, the Ministry faces the task of balancing modernization with the preservation of cultural authenticity.

Nevertheless, opportunities abound in Ekiti’s cultural and creative sector. With strategic planning, investments, and collaborations, the state can attract a growing number of tourists, boosting the local economy. Furthermore, Ekiti’s cultural diplomacy efforts can foster international partnerships, enhancing global recognition and understanding of its unique heritage.

Prof. Rasaki Ojo Bakare

Honourable Commissioner  

Ministry of Arts, Culture & Creative Economy, Ekiti State. 

Performance director and Professor of Choreography and Performance Aesthetics, Prof Rasaki Ojo Bakare was born in his home town, Aramoko-Ekiti, Nigeria on November 8th, 1964. After his Secondary education in 1981, he went for theatre apprenticeship under Jimoh Aliu and Hubert Ogunde before proceeding for higher educational studies. He began his lecturership career as a Graduate Assistant in 1990. He became a Lecturer II in 1992, Lecturer 1 in 1997, Senior Lecturer in 2000, Associate Professor in 2005 and full Professor in 2011.

He was artiste-scholar in-residence at the University of West Indies, Edna Manley School of Performing Arts and National Dance Theatre Company, Jamaica in 2003. Also, through a grant from PASMAE and UNISA, Prof Bakare was in University of Pretoria, South Africa for a collaborative research on African Musical Arts Education in 2003.

A member of the Teaching Artists Research Group, Oslo, Norway, 2013 and the Carnival Research Roundtable, Trinidad and Tobago, 2012, Prof Bakare has also benefited from research and workshop grants provided by Fords Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, SWAAN, UNFPA, C4C and NCWS.

His works have represented Nigeria in international competitions winning laurels for the country. Some of them are Friendship International Festival, North Korea, 1997, Afrika- in Tyrol Festival, Austria, 1999, Africa Peace Tour, Mozambique, 2002, Gauteng Carnival, Soweto, South Africa, 2010. He was a leading member of Nigeria’s contingent to Cervantino Theatre Festival, Mexico in 2001.

Prof Bakare was choreographer, Gambia National Troupe, 1994- 1996, acting Head of Drama, National Troupe of Nigeria, 2001, and Artistic Director/ CEO Nigeria National Carnival, Abuja, 2009-2013.

Among his over 200 directed performances are three presidential inauguration command performances: Jagunmolu,1999, Voyage, 2007 and Langbodo, 2011. He also directed the performances of the opening and closing ceremonies of National Sports Festival, 2004, NUGA 2009, Nigeria Police Games 2016 and supervised the performances of the opening and closing ceremonies of FIFA U-17 World Cup 2009.

A member of International Dance Council ( CID), UNESCO, Member, National Academy of Letters, Fellow, Society of Nigerian Theatre Artists, Fellow, Dance Guild of Nigeria and National Adviser, Theatre and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria, Prof Bakare has over 50 publications in peer reviewed journals and books across the globe.

Before joining Federal University, Oye – Ekiti in 2011, Prof Bakare, at different times had been a full time staff of University of Calabar, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, University of Uyo and University of Abuja. He has also worked in adjunct capacity at Imo State University, Delta State University, Kogi State University and Olabisi Onabanjo University. At the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, he was Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (2013-2015), Dean of Faculty of Arts (2015- 2017), and Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies, ( 2017- 2019). A recipient of Ekiti State Merit Award (1997), Ekiti State Cultural Ambassador (2013), Prof Bakare was appointed

Ekiti State Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism in 2019, and was re-appointed for a second term as Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, in 2023.

Under his watch as Commissioner, the state Culture sector has grown in leaps and bounds.

Barr. Bamidele Simeon Arowosola

Permanent Secretary,

Ministry of Arts, Culture & Creative Economy, Ekiti State.

The Permanent Secretary, Barrister Bamidele Simeon Arowosola was born in Ikere Ekiti in Ikere Local Government Area of Ekiti State to the family of Pa Rufus and Madam Elizabeth Arowosola Esan who hailed from Araromi Ekiti in Ijero Local Government of Ekiti State on 29^th January, 1967.

He attended St. Mathew C.A.C. Primary School, Uro Quarters, Ikere – Ekiti from 1973 to 1976 and The Apostolic Church Primary School, Igbogi/Ikoyi Ilesha, Osun State between 1976 and 1979 for his Primary Six Leaving Certificate.  He later proceeded to Annunciation School, Ikere – Ekiti in 1979 and obtained his WASC Ordinary Level in 1984.

He attended the then Ondo State College of Education, Ikere – Ekiti and obtained his National Certificate of Education (NCE) in 1987.  In 1988, he was admitted to the University of Lagos and obtained his Bachelor Degree in Science (Biology Education) in 1991.  He had his National Youth Service Corps Programme in Kaduna State between 1991 and 1992.  He obtained his Master in Public Administration (MPA) from the then University of Ado – Ekiti (Now Ekiti State University, Ado – Ekiti) in 2004.  He also obtained his Bachelor of Law (LL.B) from the same institution in 2008 and had his Barrister at Law Certificate and was called to the Bar of the Supreme Court of Nigeria as a Solicitor and Advocate on 14^th February, 2012.

Barrister Bamidele Simeon Arowosola later got admitted into Ekiti State University, Ado in 2021 and obtained his Master Degree in Gender and Development Studies in 2020.

Barrister Bamidele Arowosola started his career in the Public Service on 10^th November, 1992 in the Board of Tourism in the old Ondo State as a Personnel Assistant III, and later advanced to the position of Personnel/Finance Officer II (Administrative Officer VIII) on 7^th November, 1994 and was posted to the Ministry of Information, Youth Sports and Culture.  He was later deployed to various Ministries, Departments and Agencies in Ondo State and later, following the creation of Ekiti State out of the Old Ondo State on 1^st October, 1996, he was deployed along with other public servants who were of Ekiti State Origin.  He had worked at various capacities as Assistant Director, Deputy Director and Director in various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies including: Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, General Administration Department of Governor’s Office, Political and Economic Affairs Department, Cabinet and Special Services Department, Ministry of Works and Transportation, Ministry of Local Government Affairs, Board for Technical and Vocational Education, Ministry of Women Affairs among others. He had a brief stay in the Ekiti State House of Assembly between 1998-1999 as Clerk at Table and Committee Secretary.

Barrister Bamidele Simeon Arowosola was appointed Secretary of the Ekiti State Council for Arts and Culture on 3^rd March, 2017 and later appointed Executive Secretary on 17^th May, 2017 and worked in that Capacity in Bureau of ICT and Ekiti State Traffic Management Agency, and was appointed as a Permanent Secretary on 23^rd April, 2019.  He had worked in that Capacity in the Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development, Ministry of Commerce, Industries and Co-operative, Parastatals Affairs Department of Governor’s Office, Office of Capacity Development and Reforms, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and was recently re-posted into the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy on 23^rd February, 2024 being the Third time to be the Accounting Officer of the Ministry, having been there in 2017, 2022 and  currently the Permanent Secretary.  Barrister Bamidele Simeon a hard working, a devout Christian, committed and is married and the marriage is blessed with promising children.

1. Construction of Ekiti State Cultural Centre (On-going)
2. Ekiti State Arts Endowment Funds (First Tranche Concluded)
3. Regular hosting of a monthly Sunday-Sunday Verity Show (On-going)
4. Continuously making concerted effort to enlist national and international sponsorship for the MDA’s programmes and projects (On-going)
5. Construction of a befitting Cultural/ Film village (Upcoming)
6. Ekiti Festival of Arts and Culture (EKIFEST) (Upcoming)

The Ekiti State Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy stand tall of preserving a rich cultural legacy and unlocking the potential of an expanding arts and culture industry. It remains committed to the mission of preserving, promoting, and developing Ekiti State’s heritage, enriching the lives of its people, and inviting the world to experience the wonders of this vibrant Nigerian state. As Ekiti continues to evolve and flourish, the Ministry is poised to play an indispensable role in shaping its cultural and economic future. The Ministry welcomes all stakeholders, both local and international, to join hands in the endeavor to make Ekiti State a beacon of culture and a must-visit destination for tourists from around the world.