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.

Razaq Ayobami Akanbi     Alloy Chukwuemeka     Air Peace     Sheikh Hamzat Yusuf Ariyibi     Oba Mogaji Abdulkadir     Abubakar Bature Sulu-Gambari     11th Galadima     Deji Ajani     Aminat Ahmed     Transition Implementation Committee     Saka Adeyemo     Abdulrahman Abdulrazak     Orisa Bridge     Ramadhan     Hassan Oyeleke     Isaac Gbenle     Adamu Jemilat-Baki     Yashikira     Aliyu Alhassan     Emir Of Lafiagi     Erubu     Omotoso     Irepodun     Mahmud Ayinla Giwa     MMWG     Nigerian Army     Olubukola Kifayat Adedeji     Lasiele Alabi Yahaya     Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa     Oke-Kura     Olukotun Of Ikotun     Tuesday Assayomo     Hijab     Risikat Lawal     Barakat Community Secondary School     Plat Technologies Limited     Kawu Baraje     Olatunji Ibrahim     Tunji Moronfoye     Abdulkadir Akanbi-Oke     Kwara TV     Abdullahi Atanda     Chartered Institute Of Personnel Management Of Nigeria     All Confederation Of Principals Of Secondary Schools     Durosinlohun Kawu     Kpotum Mohammed Baba     Salihu S. Yaru     Gbemi Saraki     Hakeem Idris     Henry Makinwa     Mazars Consulting     Baba Issa Awoye     Sulyman Abdulkareem     Olabanji Orilonishe     Abdulrazaq Solihudeen     Allocation     Baruba     Akeem Olatunji     Mansurat Amuda-Kannike     Shehu Jimoh     Erubu Oba Zubair     Yaru     IF-K     Ahmed Bolaji Nagode     Fulani     Ibrahim Abdulkadir Abikan     Senior Ibrahim Suleiman     Hamid Bobboyi     Tunji Arosanyin     April 11     Kwara Pdp     Nupe     Isiaka Oniwa     Ibrahim Mashood     Oyin-Zubair     Isiaka Yusuf     Kamaldeen Kehinde    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Ramat Oganija     Bamikole Omishore     Kumbi Titiloye     Innocent Okoye     Abdulrasheed Na\'Allah     Arinola Lawal     Ademola Kiyesola     Alumni Association Of The Federal Polytechnic Offa     A.O. Belgore     Maryam Ado Bayero     Olaoye B. Felix     Kuliyan Geri     Eleyele     Bolaji Abdullahi     Awodun     Valsolar Consortium     Oya State     Riskat Opakunle     Ahmad Uthman     Ayekale     Doyin Agbamu     Titus Ashaolu     Toyin Sanusi     Joseph Yemi Ajayi     Adamu Attah     CCB     Ileloke     Kayode Issa     Okin Biscuit     Abdulwaheed Musa     Ahmed Saidu Rufai     Ibrahim Sulu Gambari     Ilorin Central Mosque     Mansur Alfanla     Musbau A. Akanji     Otoge     Abdulwasiu Bolaji Adeyi     Adesina Simon Sodiya     Muideen Olaniyi Alalade     Rebecca Bake     Kwara     Otuka     Elerin Of Adanla     ITP     Abdulrauf Yusuf     Patigi Regatta     Funmilayo Zubair     Voices Of Tomorrow     Sardauna     Fatima Abolore Jimoh     Bareke     Olomu Of Omu-Aran     Abdullahi Adisa Akodudu     Medinat Folorunsho Salman     Okin Malt     Kwara Coalition Of Business And Professional Associations     Yahaya Abdulkareem Babaita     Jide Oyinloye     Ijagbo Health Centre     Olatinwo     Belgore     Ahmed Bayero     Democracy Day     Ajasse-Ipo     The Herald     Sulu Babaita Isiaka     Umaru Saro     Olatunji Abdulmumeen     Mohammed Ibrahim     IHS Towers     Dagbalodo     Stephen Fasakin     Jaiz Bank     Afolayan     Alloy Chukwuemeka     Titus Suberu-Ajibola     University Road