The Chairman of the Ilorin Emirate Durbar Committee, in Kwara State North Central Nigeria, Engineer Suleiman Alapansanpa said that the annual Durbar festival will attract investors and tourists, who have already indicated their intentions to participate into the state capital.

Alapansapa made this known in Ilorin, while briefing newsmen on the activities lined up for this year's durbar.

According to him, the festival is targeted at further cementing the existing love, unity and display of culture of the people of the emirate as well as to preserve their culture and heritage.

The Committee chairman told Journalists that his team had gotten assurances from International bodies and federal government agencies of their readiness to partner with the committee for a successful event.

The annual durbar, usually held on the second day of Eid-el-Kabir at the forecourt of the palace of the Emir of Ilorin, Alh Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari.

Alapansanpa, said that the festival would be used to showcase the economic potentials and rich culture of the various communities that made up Ilorin Emirate across five local government areas of Ilorin West, Ilorin East, Ilorin South, Moro and Asa.

“The main purpose of showcasing the economic potentials and rich culture of Ilorin Emirate is to attract investors and tourists to our communities,” Alapansanpa said.

The durbar committee chairman disclosed that his committee in conjunction with security agencies in the state have emplaced adequate security measures for the event, which will hold on Thursday, between 10am and 4pm.

Alapansanpa who is the Danmasani of Ilorin, said that this year's edition would be the fifth since the festival was reintroduced in 2018 .

According to him, Ilorin Emirate Durbar festival was reintroduced in 2018 by the Emir who felt that such an important aspect of our culture should not be forgotten but brought to limelight again and in a more glamorous style and manner adding that since then, the festival had always been organised.

“Though durbar is durbar but the way we stage our own is unique. This uniqueness stems from our peculiarities. This is because Ilorin Emirate is an epitome of unity in diversity. This is the reason why you witness in our durbar what is unobtainable in the durbar festival of the sister Emirates of northern Nigeria. This year's edition of the festival would be quite different from what that played out in the past. But its uniqueness would remain as manifest as possible”, he added.

“500 horses to participate in the procession”

According to him, over 500 horsemen will participate in the horse procession and that the Emir of Ilorin would lead the horse procession who would partake in the cultural fiesta.

Alapansanpa revealed that high chiefs, members of the royal family and honorary title holders of the Ilorin Emirate would accompany the monarch during the horse ride across selected areas of Ilorin metropolis.

He stated that the Durbar event would be preceded by exhibition of Ilorin cultural materials at the palace of the Emir of Ilorin from 12pm to 6pm on Wednesday.

Alapansanpa added that this year's edition of the cultural fiesta would be different from what played out in the past but maintained that its uniqueness would remain as manifest as possible.
He said his committee was committed to security of lives and property of the participants and people of the Emirate before, during and after the Durbar fiesta.

Alapansanpa quoted the Emir of Ilorin to have appealed to members of the public to conduct themselves peacefully and maturely throughout the ceremonies.

“Let me quickly put it on record that Ilorin Emirate Durbar festival was reintroduced in 2018 by the Emir, who felt that such an important aspect of our culture should not be forgotten but brought to limelight again and in a more glamorous style and manner. Since then, we have never missed any edition.