Ijakadi Festival: Lai Mohammed hails revival of centuries-old festival, promises support
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.
Musa Yeketi Suleiman Abubakar Ile Arugbo Federal College Of Education (Special), Afon Basic Education Certificate Examination Vasolar-Kwara Company Ltd Aliyu Kora-Sabi NAWOJ Hassan A. Saliu Ahmed \'Lateef Olokoba Ileloke Senate President NITDA Dele Momodu Adeleke Ogungbe Habeeb Saidu Iyabo Adewuyi Ifelodun Oloyede Iyabo Adisa Ibiyeye Onikijipa Ilorin Durbar Elerin Of Adanla Irese Samuel Adedoyin Prince Mahe Abdulkadir Curfew Aso-ofi TIC Tunde Kazeem Oro Grammar School Old Students Association Mohammed Abdulahi Ojuekun Mahe Abdulkadir Saka Onimago Segun Olawoyin Sunday Otokiti Kisira Yusuf Amuda Aluko Ramat Oganija Shuaib Jawondo Share-Tsaragi Omar Bolaji Gambari Abdullah Janet Amudat Abdulmumini AbdulRazaq Abatemi Usman Muritala Awodun Kwha.gov.ng Olabanji Orilonishe Ayodele Shittu College Of Arabic And Islamic Legal Studies Share/Tsaragi Tsaragi/Share Balogun-Ojomu Olomu Countryside Emerging Leaders Fellowship Kwara 2023 Presidential Election Rebecca Olanrewaju Afolabi-Oshatimehin Ijakadi Maigidasanma Anilelerin Ahmed Shuaib Buranga Gwanara Yetunde Balogun Surajudeen Akanbi UITH Oyelere Oyinloye Sam Onile Aremu Odolaye Undergraduate Bursary Ajibola Ademola Julius Oluranti Idowu Mohammed Yisa ASMAU PLAZA Abdul-Rahoof Bello

