“FUOYE is greatly proud to have Prof. Bakare as one of her leading astute academics and upwardly mobile scholars and professionals in their field. We wish him more success in this venture like he has always achieved in the past admirable feats”
By John Odunayo
Prolific creative artist and Professor of Choreography and Performance Aesthetics at the Federal University Oye Ekiti, Prof. Rasaki Ojo Bakare, will lead Nigeria’s contingent to the 2026 global Festival of Arts and Crafts.
The global event is holding in India between 31st January and 15th February 2026.
The multiple award winner has led Nigeria to over 10 global cultural competitions, winning laurels for the country.
Recall that Prof. Bakare, has just returned from England where he directed his new play, KASHIMAWO, for performance at Shaw Theatre, London courtesy of Duke of Shomolu Foundation.
In January 2026, he will be the Artistic Director leading the Calabar-based Calasvegas Carnival Band Dance Troupe which has been selected by the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy to represent Nigeria at the global event in India.
The FUOYE don, who is a former Assistant Director, National Troupe of Nigeria, will be handling the assignment in conjunction with a former Honourable Minister for Arts, Culture and Tourism and the Chairman of Calasvegas Band, High Chief Edem Duke, who is also the MD/CEO of Mirage Hospitality Group.
The Vice Chancellor of FUOYE, Prof. Abayomi Fasina, congratulated Prof. Bakare on another milestone in his patriotic zeal in developing the culture sector of Nigeria and promoting the rich cultural heritage and creative endowment of Nigeria.
Fasina said, “FUOYE is greatly proud to have Prof. Bakare as one of her leading astute academics and upwardly mobile scholars and professionals in their field. We wish him more success in this venture like he has always achieved in the past admirable feats”.
Prof Bakare is a prolific arts creator with over 200 commissioned command performances including three presidential inauguration command performances and the opening and closing ceremonies of two FIFA-organised games.
The Aramoko Ekiti-born creative guru, a FUOYE staff where he was the pioneer Dean of Postgraduate School and the pioneer Dean, Faculty of Arts, and also Ekiti State Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy between December 2019 and August 2025.
In 1998, he was honoured with Ekiti State Merit Award by the then military administrator, Inuwa Bawa, while he was decorated as Ekiti Cultural Ambassador in 2013 by the then governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi.
Among others Prof. Bakare, one of Nigeria’s most sought-after consultants in the creative sector, is a former Artistic Director of Abuja National Carnival; and former Choreographer, National Troupe of Gambia.
The extremely versatile creative mind has worked in all the continents of the world.
