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.

Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq     Kawu Baraje     Mohammed Jimoh Faworaja     Toun Okewale-Sonaiya     Age AbdulKareem     Baaziki Sulaiman     Arinola Fatimoh Lawal     Peter Amogbonjaye     Alimi     Hamza Usman     Habeeb Abdullahi Al-Ilory     Jaigbade Alao     Najim Yaasin     Afusat Nike Ibrahim     Bola Shagaya     Kayode Laro     IESA     National Pilot     Maryam Nurudeen     Paul Odama     Shagari     Geri-Alimi Split Diamond Interchange     Labour Party     Adisa Logun     SDP     General Hospital, Offa     Kwara State Geographic Information Service     Harmony Holdings     Maryam Ado Bayero     HYPPADEC     Towobola Abdulrahman Toyin     Saka Keji     Pakata Patriots     Jide Ashonibare     Jamila Bio Ibrahim     Eruku     Egbejila     Balogun Ajikobi     Abdulazeez Uthman     Third Estate     Isiaka Rafiu Mope     Yahaya Abdulkareem Babaita     Aisha Ahman Pategi     Kwara State Internal Revenue Service     Ganmo     Danladi     SSA Youth     Popo-Igbonna     Aliyu Kora-Sabi     Shero     Federal Polytechnic Offa     Voices Of Tomorrow     Aro Yahaya     Raliat Islamic Foundation     Razak Atunwa     Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq     Abubakar Baba Sulaiman     COVID-19 Palliatives     Olosi Of Osi     Presidential Election     Madawaki     Ilorin Airport     Ilorin East/South Federal Constituency     Bureau Of Lands     Busari Toyin Isiaka     March 28     Is\'haq Modibbo Kawu     Kwara State Polytechnic     Lateef Ademola Olatunji     Tafida Of Ilorin     Kwara State Governor     Ahmad Ali     Al-Adaby     Joseph Yemi Ajayi     Imodoye Writer’s Enclave     Ayobami Akanbi     Ridhwanullah Al-Ilory    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Habeeb Abdullahi Al-Ilory     Ojuekun Sarumi     Alimi     Oyeyemi Olasumbo Florence     Hamza Usman     Taofik Abiodun Ahmed     Erubu     Mohammed Lawal     Aisha Ahman Pategi     Offa Metropolitan Club     Adekunle David Dunmade     Olatunde Jare     Y.A. Abdulkareem     Daud Adeshola     Mohammed Kamaludeen     IESA     Wahab Egbewole     Elelu     Borgu     Kisira     TETFUND     Bamidele Adegoke Oladimeji     Laboratory-to-Product     Nurudeen Mohammed     FOMWAN     Odolaye Aremu     Doyin Awoyale     Oko-Erin     Sidikat Uthman Ajibola     Flights To Ilorin     Tope Daramola     JMK Construction Company Limited     Economic And Financial Crimes Commission     Afonja Descendants Union     Baba Issa Awoye     Olupako Of Share     Oyin-Zubair     Sola Saraki University     Ijakadi     Yahaya Muhammad     Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa     Soffiyyallah Kamaldeen     Garba Dogo     Talaka Parapo     Apaokagi     Jebba     Ayegbeni     AbdulRazaq Jiddah     Elerin Of Adanla     Ilorin International Airport     Haruna Olawale Sulaiman     Yinka Aluko     Omar Bolaji Gambari     Olomu Of Omu-Aran     Cornelius Adebayo     Aasiyat Bello Oyedepo     11th Galadima     Kwara     Ghali Muhammed     Kwara State Fire Service     Wasiu Onidugbe     Egbewole     Alaaya     Kubra Kazum     Lanre Issa-Onilu     Rafiu Ibrahim     Bayer Nigeria Limited     Makama Of Kaiama     Isiaka Danmeromu     Maimunat Oloriegbe     Haashim Initiative For Community Advancement     Sa\'ad Alanamu     Pakata Patriots     Aliyu Salihu     Olupako     Ndama Al-hassan     Onilorin Of Ilorin