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.
Junior Secondary School Certificate Examinations Madawaki Hajj Wahab Issa Gbadeyan Gbadura Yomi Ibrahim Oloriegbe IHS Towers Muideen Olaniyi Alalade Lola Olabayo Henry Makinwa Ibrahim Oniye Susan Modupe Oluwole Sarkin Malamai Standard Organization Of Nigeria SWAN Share Bello Bature Kwara University Of Education Edret Sabi Abel Muritala Olarewaju Sulyman Tejidini Saadu Gbogbo Iwe General Hospital, Offa Kwara-SAPZ Project Valsolar Consultoria Hauwa Nuru Tanke Flyover Bridge Erin-ile Muhammed Taofeeq Abdulrazaq Salake Code Of Conduct Tribunal Ilorin South Mohammed Abdulahi CLAY POT Ramat Oganija Ibraheem Abdullateef Abdulganiyu Salahudeen Seed Technologies Jelili Yusuf Moses Rahman Popoola Kwara State Internal Revenue Service BECE Olawuyi All Peoples Party Mary Kemi Adeosun Olateju Lukman College Of Arabic And Islamic Legal Studies Okanlawon Musa Abdul Jimoh Mohammed Abdulwahab Oba Oba Mogaji Abdulkadir Abubakar Bature Sulu-Gambari ITP Haashim Initiative For Community Advancement Muhammad Fawaz Abubakar Rebecca Olanrewaju Issa Manzuma Kayode Oyin Zubair Babatunde Ishola Babaita Baboko Association Of Kwara State Online Media Practitioners Oba Abdulraheem Rotimi Samuel Olujide Bashir Badawi Ibrahim Abdulkadir Abikan Rotimi Atere Lukman Oyebanji Fagbemi Ilorin West/Asa Federal Constituency Apaokagi Femi Agbaje James Kolo Doyin Agbamu Fareedah Dankaka Afonja Atunwa Earlyon Technologies Tunde Akanbi

