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.

Post-utme     Dar-Al-Handasah Consultants     University Road     Owo Arugbo     KWASEIC     Guber Aspirant     Quareeb Islamic Association     Folajimi Aleshinloye     Eghe Igbinehin     Nigeria Computer Society     Ijakadi     Baba Issa     Ohoro Of Shao     Justina Oha     Muhammadu Gobir     Ayekale     Arinola Fatimoh Lawal     Apado     Share     Mubarak Oladosu     Ballah     Tafidan Kaiama     Hijab     Idofin     Zaratu Umar     Taofik Abdulkareem     Ojuekun Sarumi     Yusuf Babatunde Abdulwahab     Muhammad Sirajo Aliyu     Bilikisu Oniyangi     Bahago     Ganmo Electricity Sub-Station     Isiaka Gold     HYPPADEC     Gambari     ASMAU PLAZA     Dele Momodu     Tanke Road     Bayer AG     Elelu     UNIFEMGA     Olubukola Kifayat Adedeji     Bello Bature     Haliru Yahaya     SAPZ Project     Olatinwo     Asa     Ibrahim Kayode Adeyemi     Presidential Election     Suleiman Mora Omar     Kwara State Television     Rasaq Jimoh     07039448763     Abdullahi Dasilva Yussuf     Nurudeen Muhammed     Muhammad-Mustapha Suleiman     Kehinde Baale     Erubu Oba Zubair     Usman Yunusa     Omoniyi M. Ayinla     Amosa     Khairat Gwadabe     Kayode Yusuf     Bola Sagaya     Abdulrazaq Akorede     VADA     Adanla-Irese     Atiku     Madawaki Of Ilorin     Kwha.gov.ng     Ajike People Support Centre     TESCOM 2025     JAMB     Mujtabah Bature     Elekoyangan     Adeleke Ogungbe     Law School Scholarship    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Salman Suleiman     Simeon Ajibola     Kunle Akogun     Olaiya Victor Mobolaji     Saraki     MATTA Girls Foundation     Olabimpe Olani     Sheu Ndanusa Usman     Tsaragi/Share     Ilorin Anchor Men And Women     Mustapha Akanbi     Mahmud Ajeigbe     Samuel Olusegun Adedayo     Odogun Olushola Gabriel     Abdulrazaq Sanni     Photo News     Sarakite     Muhammad Mustapha Suleiman     Tunde Idiagbon Road     Abdulquowiyu Olododo     Nurudeen Muhammed     Dele Momodu     Samari     Earlyon Technologies     Sheriff Shagaya     Ibrahim Abikan     Kayode Issa     Alapado     Bayer Nigeria Limited     Quarry Royal Valley     Ibrahim Abduquadri Abikan     Bello Oyedepo     Modupe Oluwole     Abubakar Suleiman     Hussein Oloyede     Kwara State Health Insurance Agency     Abdulfatai Baakini     Femi Gbajabiamila     Erin-ile     NULGE     Wahab Femi Agbaje     Tunde Kazeem     Issa Oloruntogun     Wahab Olasupo Egbewole     Marafan Shonga     Omu Aran     Tanke     Elelu     Oluwarotimi Boluwatife Adenike     Onilu     Olaitan Buraimoh     Crystal Corner Shops     Third Estate     MalHub     Jebba     Savannah Centre For Diplomacy, Democracy And Development     Samuel Adaramola     Adeola Abraham     Centre For Community Empowerment And Poverty Eradication     Gbenga Awoyale     Busari Toyin Isiaka     Tunji Moronfoye     Bamikole Omishore     Elekoyangan     Plat Technologies     Haruna Tambiri Mohammed     Yusuf Aiyedun     Adeleke Ogungbe     Susan Modupe Oluwole     Kwara State Fire Service     Opolo Global Innovation Limited     Oni Adebayo     SSUCOEN     Razak Atunwa     Gaa Olobi     Ilorin Descendants Progressive Union     Sulaiman Gado