Ijakadi Festival: Lai Mohammed hails revival of centuries-old festival, promises support
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.
Isiaka Gold CCB Yakub Ali-Agan Gwanara General Hospital, Ilorin Albert Ogunsola National Information Technology Development Agency Kwara Politics Dogara Hakeem Idris NSCIA Balogun Fulani Bluenile Associates Olatunji Ayeni Abiodun Abdulkareem NURTW Ayo Adeyemi Abdulrazaq Sanni Abdulbaqi Jimoh CCEPE Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa Owo Arugbo Kwara State Sports Commission MATTA Girls Foundation Bashir Badawi UNILORIN Alumni Association Abdullahi Dasilva Yussuf Kulende Sabitiyu Grillo Tope Daramola Abdulrazaq Magaji AbdulRauf Keji Garuba Alikinla Shittu Junior Secondary School Certificate Examinations Azeez Salawu Razaq Ayobami Akanbi Medinat Folorunsho Salman Kazeem Oladepo Ramadhan Jide Oyinloye James Ayeni Joseph Daudu Monkey Pox KWTV Mohammed Abdulahi Mufutau Olatinwo Abiodun Musa Aibinu Abdulquawiy Olododo Alagbado Olota Of Odo-Owa Lawal Arinola Kudirat Economic And Financial Crimes Commission Kwara State Infrastructure Development Fund Kabir Shagaya Donatus Ejidike Code Of Conduct Tribunal NTA Ilorin Aishat Mohammed Lawal Sa\'ad Alanamu Rafiu Olasile Rafiu Ibrahim Ilesha-Gwanara Bilikisu Gambari Eleyele PAACO-PCL Consortium Sola Saraki University Aliyu Kora-Sabi Joseph Alex Offorjama Akanbi-Oke Galland Marcias Zara Umar Kwara Basketball Association Quareeb Islamic Association SWAN REO CAKES Gani Saadu Lanre Aremu

