Ekiti govt bans three-day marathon kissing event

Tamarauemi Ebimini

The Ekiti State Government has banned a three-day kissing marathon tagged: “Kiss-A-Thon,” being put together by a youth group under the auspices of Sugar Tee.

The three-day kissing marathon event was scheduled to start tomorrow, July 7, 2023, at one of the hospitality outlets in the state.

However, a letter from the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism, which was signed by the Permanent Secretary, Dele Ogunsemoyin, and addressed to the Hoteliers Association, described the event as absurd, unhealthy, immoral and capable of denigrating the image of the state.

He said the programme runs counter to the values of the people of the state and therefore capable of plunging youths backward morally.

The letter reads: “The attention of the state government has been drawn to a planned hosting of ‘Kiss-A-Thon’ in Ekiti State. According to information at the disposal of the ministry, Kiss-A-Thon, a three-day kissing marathon event, has been scheduled to hold on July 7, 2023, at one of the hospitality outlets in the state.

“This event is said to be planned towards setting a Guinness World Record. “Kiss-A-Thon,” as an event, is not only absurd, unhealthy, immoral and capable of denigrating the image of the state, it is a programme that runs counter to the values of the people of the state and therefore capable of plunging youths morally backward.

“In view of the foregoing, the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism hereby prohibits the hosting of such event or any other events like it in any facility that wishes to continue to operate lawfully in Ekiti State.

“To the above, you are hereby requested to convey the content of this notice to members of Ekiti State Hoteliers’ Association to effectively monitor their outlets against being used negatively to cause embarrassment to the government and people of Ekiti State.”