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.

Kwara State University Of Education     Hausa     Ilorin Emirate Staff Association     Lawal Olohungbebe     Segun Abifarin     Law School Scholarship     Plat Technologies Limited     NIRSAL     Yusuf Aiyedun     Bolakale Saka     Salary     Lai Gobir     Ajase-Ipo     Dapo Teni Nig Enterprise     Jaigbade Alao     Mukhtar Shagaya     Kuliyan Geri     Folaranmi Aro     Suleiman Rotimi Iliasu     Bola Ahmed Tinubu     Gbenga Awoyale     Kudirat Arinola Lawal     Issa Manzuma     FERMA     Zainab Abass     Olaiya Zuberu     Jimoh Lambe Abdulkareem     Oyelere Oyinloye     Gbenga Adebayo     Rasaq Jimoh     Prince Mahe Abdulkadir     Adolescent Girls Initiative For Learning And Empowerment     FOMWAN     Orire     Kemi Adeosun     Col. Taiwo     Mohammed Alabi Lawal     Salman Jawondo     Haliru Yahaya     Tunde Mukaila Mustapha     Oko     Issa Memunat Moyosore     Aminu Ado Bayero     Taofik Mustapha     Sabo-Oke     Afonja Descendants Union     Adesoye     Olomu     Mashood Abdulrafiu Agboola     Odo-Owa     Rapheal Ashaolu     Jamila Bio Ibrahim     Opaleke Bukola Iyabo     Seun Bolaji     Erubu     Joana Nnazua Kolo     Bamidele Aluko     Elese Of Igbaja     Adesina Simon Sodiya     Centre For Peace And Strategic Studies     Sabi     Adeola Abraham     Abdulkadir Akanbi-Oke     Ekiti     Jumoke F. Ajao     Titus Suberu-Ajibola     Baba Issa     Agbarere     Taofik Abiodun Ahmed     UNILORIN Alumni     Nigeria Association Of Women Journalists     Moses Rahman Popoola     Suleiman Alege Kuranga     Abdulrahman Iliasu     Kwabes     Minimum Wage     Charcoal    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Susan Modupe Oluwole     Aisha Gobir     Mutawali Of Ilorin     Ajeigbe     Kamaldeen Ajibade     Ezekiel Yissa Benjamin     Ola Falade     General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport     Special Adviser On Digital Innovation     Folorunsho Alao     Muhammad Sirajo Aliyu     Yekeen Alabi     Folajimi Aleshinloye     Ghali Alaaya     Elections     Ilorin Talaka Parapo (ITP)     Igosun     Abdulmutalib Shittu     Sango-UITH Road     NAWOJ     Alaiye     Doyin Group     Nigerian Army     Taofik Mustapha     Oniwa     Aso-ofi     Offa     Bola Sagaya     Tunde Akanbi     Ahmed     Elese Of Igbaja     Lanre Olosunde     Saliu Tunde Bello     Kwara North     Oke-Ode     Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital     Ayobami Akanbi     Cornelius Fawenu     Belgore     James Kolo     Eghe Igbinehi     Osi     Col. Ibrahim Taiwo     Tosho Yaqub     Mubarak Oladosu     Olabode Towoju     Ali Ahmad     Ajia-Bako     2023 Elections     Isiaka Alikinla     Yeketi     Oladipo Akanmu Tolani     ASMAU PLAZA     Pakata     Cornelius Adebayo     Sun Qing Rong     Adamu Ibrahim Sabi     Babatunde Ajeigbe     Sa\'adu Salahu     Yekini Adio     Abdulwahab Oba     Afolasade Opeyemi Kemi     Code Of Conduct     Oya State     Olaiya Victor Mobolaji     Razak Atunwa     Kayode Ogunlowo     Raymond Olaitan     Michael Nzwekwe     Omotosho     Yakubu Mohammed Abdullahi     Okin Group     Oloje     National Union Of Road Transport Workers     Jalala     College Of Arabic And Islamic Legal Studies     Siraj Oyewale