As part of measures to promote national unity and inter-agency collaboration, the Military, Police, and Paramilitary agencies have concluded arrangements to hold a national band festival.
The Armed Forces, Police, and Paramilitary International Band Festival (AFOPPIBAF) is initiated and packaged by the African Caribbean Network Foundation (ACNF).
New Telegraph reports that the planned event and the just-concluded African Military Games (AMGA) are geared towards building public confidence in agencies of the State saddled with national security and safety responsibilities.
At a press conference held in Abuja on Thursday, the Director General, Amb. Justine Duru, said: “AFOPPIBAF national festival is a historic aimed at celebrating the best of regimental tattoos and music by the Nigerian Armed Forces, Police and Paramilitary Bands in a competitive, creative and performing arts showcase.
“This, awakening the latent talent of the activities and services of these integral departments in the promotion of the values and virtue of the Nigerian Armed Forces, Police, and Paramilitary Agencies, which has for long been neglected.
“AFOPPIBAF national festival is packaged to improve on and promote experience sharing, synergy, creativity, service deliveries, and new trends in the military, police and paramilitary regimental tattoos and music performances, aimed at enhancing bonds and working relationship among the…bands”
He highlighted the following as some of the benefits derivable from the event: “Boost and strengthen the working relationship between the band corps with the creation of the Unity Band Ensemble Orchestra;
“It will showcase the creative potentials of Armed Forces, Police and Paramilitary Agencies, while promoting careers in the Corps for talented and desirous Nigerian youths in music, creative and performing arts, as the duties and services transcend beyond protecting the territorial integrity of Nigeria, maintaining peace and internal security, and collecting government revenue, to entertaining the people with the best of regimental tattoos and ceremonial music, which is not popular in these climes.
“It will enable the Band Corps to embrace new trends and best practices in the creation, performance, and utilization of regimental and ceremonial music for enhanced service deliveries”.
