Nigeria and the Art of Living Foundation are set to host the World Culture Festival 2022.
This was disclosed by Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed at an event to commemorate the 2022 International Day of Happiness at the Happiness Centre in Lagos.
The Minister said the World Culture Festival 2022 will mark the 40th anniversary of the Art of Living Foundation, which is a volunteer-based, humanitarian and educational non-governmental organisation.
PIC: The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji also Mohammed (left), and the Managing Director of the Happiness Centre, Askay Kumar Jain, at the commemoration of the World Hapiness Day in Lagos on Saturday pic.twitter.com/s98x1Ke5oD
— Fed Min of Info & Cu (@FMICNigeria) March 20, 2022
“The date and venue of the event will be announced later,’’ Alhaji Mohammed said, adding that the last edition of World Cultural Festival was held in India in 2016 and attracted 3.5 million people.
The Minister observed that the Happiness Centre, which is the Foundation’s contribution to the well being of Nigerians, offers several stress-elimination and self-development programs based on breathing techniques, meditation and Yoga.
“I found this very impressive, because it reminds me of the popular saying, ‘A sound mind is a sound body’, which explains the interconnection between physical exercise, mental equilibrium and the ability to enjoy life,” he said.
Alhaji Mohammed, who welcomed the establishment of the Happiness Centre especially in an ever-so busy city like Lagos, said the alternative health and holistic wellness place offers a range of services which Lagosians in particular and Nigerians in general can take advantage of in order to ensure optimal living.
“I commend and congratulate the proprietors of this centre. Their decision to establish the centre is an affirmation of their willingness to contribute to ensuring the overall well-being of Nigerians through a holistic approach to health that brings harmony to body, mind and soul,” he said.
The Minister expressed delight that 90% of the patrons of the Happiness Centre are Nigerians seeking to harness the power of alternate medicine, herbal remedies, yoga, breath-work and meditation to achieve physical, emotional and mental balance for individuals.
Smiles to People’s Faces
In his remarks, the Managing Director of the Happiness Centre, Askay Kumar Jain, said the Art of Living Foundation, which was founded in 1981 by Gurudev Ravi Shankar, has centers in more than 156 countries, reaching more than 450 million people.
He said the Centre has taken the mission to bring smiles to people’s faces and build bridges across cultures.
In his virtual message, which was played at the occasion, the Art of Living Founder, Gurudev Ravi Shankar, said the Foundation will promote relaxing of the mind and healthy diet to make Lagos and indeed Nigeria the happiest place on earth.
Also a member of the Board of Directors of the Happiness Center, Professor Pat Utomi said the need for creating happiness cannot be over-emphasised.
He said so many socio economic activities and life style changes are breaking the human system thus the need to ensure happiness around life style.
The International Day of Happiness is celebrated throughout the world on 20 March. It was established by the United Nations General Assembly on 28 June 2012. The International Day of Happiness aims to make people around the world realize the importance of happiness within their lives.
Hauwa Abu
