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.

Kumbi Titilope     Raimi Iyanda     Dauda Adeniran Adeshola     Adijat Adebiyi     Idofin     Cornelius Adebayo     Ado Bayero     Yaru     AbdulGaniyu Kareem     Mohammed Yisa     Ilorin Likeminds Foundation     Ambassador Kayode Laro     National Democratic Congress     Nigeria Customs Service     Aliyu U. Tilde     Imodoye Writer’s Enclave     Maja     Egbewole     Mike Omotosho     NIRSAL     Rapheal Ashaolu     Alapado     Tunde Oyawoye     Dorcas Afeniforo     Hakeem Lawal     IF-K     Idowu Laro     Abdulraufu Mustapha     Garuba Alikinla Shittu     Wahab Agbaje     Share     Adeniyi Ojo     Abdulhakeem Amao     Pakata Patriots     Issa Baba     GANZY     CACOVID Palliatives     Kaosarah Adeyi     AbdulRazaq Jiddah     Seed Technologies     Bello Oyebanji     Kayode Ibrahim     Kudirat Arinola Lawal     Elerin Of Erin-Ile     Yusuf Arowosaye     Sai Kayi     Ahmad Uthman     Plat Technologies Limited     CCEPE     Yakubu Danladi     Moses Rahman Popoola     Mansur Alfanla     College Of Arabic And Islamic Legal Studies     Matthew Okedare     Prince Mahe Abdulkadir     Offa Metropolitan Club     Mahfouz Adedimeji     Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa     Akorede     Kuliyan Geri     Neuropsychiatric Hospital     Jimoh Bashir     Olusola Saraki     IYA ALFA NLA     Olubukola Kifayat Adedeji     Malete     Ibrahim Abdulqadir Abikan     Mukhtar Shagaya     Ojuekun     James Kolo     Jimba Babatunde     Kwara State Coalition Of Business And Professional Associations     Kaiama     Zulu Gambari     Ogbondoroko     Javed Khan     Ibrahim Bio    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Adolescent Girls Initiative For Learning And Empowerment     Sunday Fagbemi     Abdulrazaq Akorede     Sidikat Uthman Ajibola     Baboko Primary School     Markaz Arabic And Islamic Training Institute, Agege     Sulyman Age AbdulKareem     Binta Abubakar-Mora     Sheriff Olanrewaju     Muhammad-Mustapha Suleiman     Bukola Saraki     Emir Of Ilorin     Adebara     Charcoal     Abdulkarim Adisa     Bamikole Omishore     Ajase-Ipo     Abdulkadir Orire     Owo Arugbo     Baba Issa     Okiki     Kwara State Government     Abdulwahab Oba     Arik     Elerin Of Erin-Ile     Mahee Abdulkadir     Mohammed Lawal     Press Release     Yusuf Lanre Badmus     AIT Ilorin     Vasolar Consultoria     Ganiyu Taofiq     Saidu Isa     Alfa Yahaya Road     Kunle Akogun     NSCIA     Abdulganiyu AbdulAzeez     Bamidele Aluko     Yusuf Ali     Shuaib Abdulkadir     Aliyu Muhammed     Kwara United     Tosin Saraki     National Broadcasting Commission     Jide Oyinloye     Amina Susa\'a De Ahmed     Col. Ibrahim Taiwo     Yunus Oniboki     Olusin Of Ijara Isin     Ibikunle Ogunleye     Zulkifli Ibraheem     Rasheed Jimoh     Olatunde Olukoya     Tinubu     Deji Ajani     Toun Okewale-Sonaiya     Abdulrasaq Alaro     Abioye Bello     Ronke Adeyemi     Abubakar Olusola Saraki     Femi Gbajabiamila     Olatunde Oyeyiola     Idris Garba     Ella Supreme Tissue Paper     Minimum Wage     Olokoba     Toyin Sanusi     Yomi Ogunsola     Olateju Lukman     Afolasade Opeyemi Kemi     Hassan Taiye Salam     Valsolar Consultoria     Kayode Issa     Donatus Ejidike     Saheed Alakoso     Yahaya Abdulkareem Babaita     Erubu