Ijakadi Festival: Lai Mohammed hails revival of centuries-old festival, promises support

Date: 2016-11-17

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has hailed the revival of the centuries-old ''Ijakadi Festival'' by the Offa Kingdom in Kwara State, assuring that the festival will be one of the beneficiaries of the training for festival managers being planned by the Ministry in collaboration with its partners.

The Minister gave the assurance in Abuja on Wednesday when he received a delegation of the Offa Descendants Union (ODU), which came to formally invite him to the festival, scheduled for Offa 29 Dec. 2016, on behalf of the town's monarch.

He said the decision to revive the traditional wrestling festival, which dates back to the 14th century, is in line with the ongoing efforts by the present administration to leverage on the creative industries in the diversification of the nation's economy.

Alhaji Mohammed said the festival has the potentials to attract domestic and international tourists to Offa, thus impacting positively on the economy of the town and the state.

''We will provide the enabling environment for the festival, as well as similar ones across the country, to achieve their full potentials,'' the Minister said, adding that he was ''humbled and honoured'' to receive the delegation that was led by ODU President, Alhaji Najeem Usman Yasin.

While accepting the invitation to attend the festival, he commended the ''resilience, honour, principle and industry'' of the Offa people, saying the qualities are responsible for the uniqueness of the town.

Speaking earlier, the ODU President urged the federal government to support the festival to enable it achieve its full potentials and boost culture and tourism in the community as well as the entire Kwara State.

''We want the Ijakadi Festival to be included in the list of festivals being promoted by the Ministry because of its rich cultural content,'' said Alhaji Yasin, who noted that his delegation came to invite the Minister as a Special Guest of Honour.

While congratulating the Minister on the first anniversary of his assumption of office, the ODU President commended him for bringing to his new assignment the same passion with which he successfully carried out his responsibility as the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Ijakadi Festival, which was revived in 2012 after a three-decades lull, reinforces a tradition that encourages strength and determination, in addition to addressing the notion of equality among the indigenes of Offa.

Also on the ODU delegation were the 1st Vice President of ODU, Alhaji Bashir Adetokun Adepoju; the ODU Treasurer, Mrs. Mulikat Aliyu, and the ODU Secretary-General, Chief (Mrs) Wasilat Tinuke Macarthy,

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Chikanda     PharmAccess Foundation     Muhammed Akanbi     Christopher Tunji Ayeni     Kwara 2015     Ibrahim Bio     Baba-Isale     Okeose Christian Cementary     Omu Aran     Okin Biscuit     Olukotun Of Ikotun     Okanlawon Musa     Dasuki Belgore     Ilorin Talaka Parapo (ITP)     Adebayo Salami     Mohammed Haruna     Oke-Kura     Okin Biscuits     Elerin Of Adanla Irese     Ahman Patigi     Aishatu Ahmed Gobir     Kolo     Special Adviser On Digital Innovation     Elerin Of Erin-Ile     Gafaru Olayiwola Olorisade     CCB     Wole Oke     Makama     Saliu Ajibola Ajia     Bello Abubakar     Ohoro Of Shao     Olanrewju Okanlawon Musa     Road Transport Employers Association Of Nigeria     AbdulQowiy Olododo     Amoyo     Olaosebikan     SGBN     Yemi Osinbajo     Nurudeen Mohammed     Kwarareports     Minimum Wage     Kwara State Television (KWTV)     Durosinlohun Atiku     Usman Yunusa     Jide Ashonibare     Jamila Bio Ibrahim     Shuaibu Yaman     Akande Idowu Ayoola Muhammed     Lotus Bank     Bukola Saraki     Ilorin     Sulyman Atolagbe Alege     Susan Modupe Oluwole     Haliru Dantoro     20 Billion Bond     Wahab Femi Agbaje     Babatunde Idiagbon     Oba Abdulraheem     Olaiya Victor Mobolaji     Tunji Olawuyi     Senate Presidency     Oba Mogaji Abdulkadir     Oniyangi     Aliyu Sabi     Afonja Descendants Union     Smart School     Kunle Akogun     Ibrahim Akaje     Economic And Financial Crimes Commission     AbdulHamid Adi     Olayinka Are     Garba Ado Sanni     Turaki Of Ilorin     Na\'Allah     Segun Olawoyin     David Oyerinola Adedunmoye     Joseph Bamigboye    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Falokun-Oja     Sunday Otokiti     State Bureau Of Internal Revenue     Pakata Development Association     Rabiu Kwankwaso     Alliance For Democracy     Abdulfatai Baakini     A.G.F Abdulrasaq     JSSCE     Kayode Yusuf     Mohammed Khadijat Kubura     Ademola Kiyesola     Share     Nigeria Foundation For Artificial Intelligence     Hassan Oyeleke     Yaru     Kwara Poly     Doyin Agbamu     Tayo Awodiji     Dairo Kunle Paul     Clara Nwachukwu     Olatunde Michaels     Ghali Muhammed     Teachers Specific Allowance     Kwarareports     Oyedepo     Quareeb     Usman Yunusa     Amada Jidda     Saka Adeyemo     Opolo Global Innovation Limited     Kwara Coalition Of Business And Professional Associations     Assayomo     Habeeb Saidu     Summit University     Abegunde Goke     Fareedah Dankaka     Wahab Egbewole     David Oyepinola Adedumoye     Kupchi Hosea Maxwell     Ejidongari     Ilesha-Baruba     Jimoh Akani     LEAH Charity Foundation     Abdulrazaq Magaji     Ajakaye     Sa\'adu Salahu     Babatunde Ishola Babaita     Adijat Adebiyi     Democracy Day     Laboratory-to-Product     Ibrahim Agboola Gambari     Bukola Ajikobi     Makama Of Ilorin     Oba David Oyerinola Adedunmoye     Femtech     Kwara Central     Abdulkadir Bolakale Sakariyah     Afonja     Alabi Lawal     Gbugbu     Sabitiyu Grillo     Bello Abubakar     Ahmed     NSCIA     Magaji Nda     IQRA College     Funmi Salau     Junior Secondary School Certificate Examinations     Folorunsho Alao     Toun Okewale-Sonaiya     NAWOJ     Muhammad Yahya     KSIRS     Haliru Dantoro     Niyi Ogundiran     Lasiele Alabi Yahaya