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.

Maja     Sherif Shagaya     Salaudeen Oyewale     Okeose Christian Cementary     John Olobayo     Admiralty Villa     Oya State     Voices Of Tomorrow     Bolakale Kawu     Henry Olaosebikan     Pacify Labs     Doyin Awoyale     Moro     Segun Ogunsola     Benin Republic     Olaitan Buraimoh     REO CAKES     Obuh     David Oyerinola Adedunmoye     Ilorin Curfew     Ijakadi     Balogun Ajikobi     Siraj Oyewale     Old Oyo     Agbarere     N-Power     Sam Okaula     Maigidasanma     Ahmed     Bankole Omisore     Olayinka Oladapo Jogunola     Kisira     Maryam A. Garuba     Plat Technologies Limited     Gbenga Adebayo     Abdulbaqi Jimoh     Oju Ekun Sarumi     Abdulrazaq Aiyelabegan     Michael Imoudu National Institute For Labour Studies     Abiodun Jacob Ajiboye     Aisha Buhari     Ibrahim Oniye     Salake     Ilota     Rex Olawoye     Oni Adebayo     Adewuyi Funmilayo     Umar Ayinla Saro     Olohungbebe     Maigida Soludero Transit     Kulende-UITH     Ambassador Kayode Laro     Onilu     Kaiama     ASUU     Special Adviser On Digital Innovation     IEDPU     Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq     Tanke Road     Umar Yakubu Jaja     LABTOP     Ayekale     David Adesina     Idiagbon     Ita-Ore     KWSIEC     Diagnostic Centre     Samuel Olusegun Adedayo     Ibrahim Abduquadri Abikan     Muhammed Danjuma     Reuben Paraje     Bisi Kristien     Funmi Salau     Abdulhakeem Amao     Hamidat Sulyman-Yusuf     Adaramaja     JAAC    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Modibbo Kawu     Tunde Saad     Rebecca Bake     Abdulwaheed Musa     Ileloke     Folorunsho Alao     Azeez Salawu     Ahman Pategi     Islamic Development Bank     Moro     Salary     John Mayokun Dada     Onilu     Awili Pedro     Abdulkadir Bolakale Sakariyah     Tanke     T And K FOODS     Ella Supreme Tissue Paper     Adebayo Mohammed Kamaldeen     Onilupeju Of Ilupeju     Ridhwanullah Al-Ilory     Ajase-Ipo     Oko     General Hospital     Ajeigbe     Kwarareports.com     Damilola Yusuf Adelodun     Abdulrahman Iliasu     Olayinka Oladapo Jogunola     Benin Republic     Abdullahi Adisa Akodudu     Adaramaja     Aro Yahaya     Olaitan Buraimoh     Ahmed Idris Mohammed     Agbarere     Aisha Abodunrin Ibrahim     Congress For National Consensus     David Oyedepo     PharmAccess Foundation     Bayer Nigeria Limited     Federal College Of Education (Special), Afon     Shuaib Jawondo     Mustapha Olanipekun     NSCIA     Tafidan Kaiama     Adisa Logun     Ohoro Of Shao     Abdulwahab Ololele     Centre For Digital Economy     Olateju Lukman     Yusuf Babatunde Abdulwahab     Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq     NTA Ilorin     Laolu Saraki     Olanrewju Okanlawon Musa     Colleges Of Education Academic Staff Union     Abdulkadir Remi Hawawu     Ibrahim Taiwo     Sulyman Atolagbe Alege     Pakata Development Association     Mohammed Abdulahi     Olomu Of Omu-Aran     Jumoke Gafar     Binta Abubakar-Mora     Ibrahim Abdullahi     Moshood Mustapha     Abdulganiyu Oladosu     Afolayan     Ayekale     Alao Ayotunde     Saba Mamman Daniel     Okanlawon Taiwo     AGM Professional Services     Monthly Sanitation     Igbaja     Toyin Saraki