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.

Aso-ofi     Yusuf Babatunde Abdulwahab     Sayomi     Okeose Christian Cementary     Hauwa Nuru     A.O. Belgore     Omu-aran     Goodluck Jonathan     Aasiyat Bello Oyedepo     SSA Youth     Ilorin Metro Park     Aliyu Muyideen     Galadima     Idris Garba     Sadiq Umar     Olomu     Abdullahi Saadudeen Alikinla     Abdulwahab Oba     Funmilayo Mohammed     Guber Aspirant     AbdulFatai Adeniyi Dan-Kazeem     Oko-Olowo     Federal College Of Education (Special), Afon     Cornelius Fawenu     Folajimi Aleshinloye     Mohammed Jimoh Faworaja     Abdulrazak Shehu Akorede     Kupchi Hosea Maxwell     Matthew Okedare     Ishak Mohammed Sabi     Baakini     Akeem Lawal     Folashade Omoniyi     Logun     Ajikobi     Adeola Abraham     Jeunkunu-Malete-Bani     Habeeb Saidu     UNIFEMGA     Apaokagi     Ayinde Oki     Mopelola Abdulmaliq-Bashir     Erubu     Deji Ajani     Kwara 2019     Ilorin Descendants Progressive Union     Razak Atunwa     Abraham Ojo     Rasaq Jimoh     Ethical College     C2c@kwarastate.gov.ng     Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq     Abdulquawiy Olododo     Paul Olawoore     Aliyu Muhammad Saifudeen     Okala Baba     Undergraduate Bursary     Isin     Victor Gbenga Yusuf     Lukman Oyebanji Fagbemi     Lanre Badmus     Haashim Initiative For Community Advancement     Saadatu Modibbo-Kawu     Bature Bello     Shaaba Lafiagi     Special Adviser On Digital Innovation     Aremu Odolaye     Minister     Centre For Peace And Strategic Studies     Post Utme     All Confederation Of Principals Of Secondary Schools     Pakata Development Association     Senate President     Adamu Jemilat-Baki     Oyawoye     Sarakite     Oniwa    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

JMK Construction Company Limited     Sun Qing Rong     Kawu Baraje     Abdulraheem Olesin     Taofeek Sanusi     Deji Ajani     Olusegun Adeniyi     YAKOOYO     Bashir Badawi     COVID-19 Palliatives     Rueben Parejo     Salman Jawondo     Shoprite     Razaq Atunwa     Elekoyangan     Ghali Muhammed     Senate President     Kunle Suleiman     Kazeem Gbolagade     Onilorin Of Ilorin     Kwara TV     Tunde Yusuf     Abdulrazaq Akorede     Olokoba Abdullahi Ayinla     Baakini     Joseph Yemi Ajayi     Bolakale Ayo     Gafaru Olayiwola Olorisade     Bluenile Associates     Kwara Apc     Idowu Laro     Unicontinental Construction Company     Baaziki Sulaiman     Hausa     Lola Olabayo     Ahmed Saidu Rufai     Ayinke Saka     KWATMA     Mustapha Akanbi     AbdulGafar Tosho     Olomu     Babatunde Ajeigbe     Ogidi-Oloje     Yomi Adeboye     Trader Moni     Rotimi Atere     Saka Onimago     Abubakar Lah     Olusola Saraki     Hamidu Olowo     Femtech     Convocation Ceremonies     Ishak Mohammed Sabi     Shehu Salau     Mahmud Babatunde Baker     Ejidongari     Makama     Maigida Soludero Transit     Maigida     Neuropsychiatric Hospital     Adamu Attah     Ajakaye     Abioye Bello     Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission     Aso-ofi     Olaosebikan     Markaz Arabic And Islamic Training Institute, Agege     Abdulhakeem Amao     Al-Ilory     VADA     Bola Magaji     Basic Education Certificate Examination     Kayode Issa     Wahab Abayawo     Makama Of Ilorin     Salihu S. Yaru     Olajumoke Monsura Gafar