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.

Mansurat Amuda-Kannike     Muhammed Aliyu     Tafidan Kaiama     Vasolar Consultoria     Arik     Kale Kawu     Abdulsalam A. Yusuf     Ajuloopin     Olaiya Lawal     Ayodele Shittu     Abdulrasheed Akogun     Islamic Development Bank     SARS     AbdulRasaq Abdulmajeed Alaro     Lateef Alagbonsi     Kwara University Of Education     Olatunji Ayeni     Vasolar-Kwara Company Ltd     Bayer AG     Sabi     David Oyepinola Adedumoye     Abubakar Olusola Saraki     Afolayan     Kwara State Sports Commission     Oniyangi     Roseline Oni Aremu     Teachers Specific Allowance     Tunji Oyawoye     A.O. Belgore     Bature Bello     General Hospital     Saraki     Matthew Babaoye     Eghe Igbinehin     Oluronke Adeyemi     Abdulfatah Ahmed     Freshvine Nigeria Limited     Alore     Muyideen Ajani Bello     Just Law Forum     Abdullahi AbdulMajeed     Special Adviser On Digital Innovation     Mohammed Alabi Lawal     Share-Tsaragi     Tinubu Legacy Forum     Abdulmajeed Abdullahi     Yakub Ali-Agan     Ibrahim Orire     Sherif Sagaya     Taofik Abdulkareem Babaita     Patience Jonathan     Cassava Growers\' Association     Kwara State Branch Of The National Library     Idris Amosa Saidu     Yusuf Amuda Aluko     Laolu Saraki     Niguel Gallando Marcias     Transition Implementation Committee     Ben Duntoye     Alapansapa     Elekoyangan     Kwara Metro Park     Umar Ahmed Gunu     Yakub Lai Gobir     Susan Modupe Oluwole     College Of Arabic And Islamic Legal Studies     Oya State     Mike Omotosho     Abdulganiyu Salahudeen     Congress For National Consensus     Gafaru Olayiwola Olorisade     Roheemat Hammed     Jimoh Bashir     Salman Suleiman     Ayo Salami     Salary     Saliu Oluwole    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Shola Odetundun     Veterinary Teaching Hospital     Jimoh Olusola Imam     Sango-UITH Road     Iliasu     School Of Nursing     Sai Kayi     Maigida     Kudirat Arinola Lawal     Hamidu Olowo     Adebayo Mohammed Kamaldeen     Benin Republic     Oyun     AbdulRahman Saad     Oluwatoyin Lukman     Sheikh Alimi     ER-KANG     Ajayi Okasanmi     Nnazua     Bashirat Bola Bello     Yemi Sanni     Olatunji Ayeni     Odogun Olushola Gabriel     Council Of The Wise     Senate Presidency     Yusuf Aiyedun     Ben Duntoye     AbdulRaheem Ahmad Shayi     Omar Bolaji Gambari     JAAC     Radio Kwara     Yahaya Dumoye     Special Adviser On Digital Innovation     Kwara State University Of Education     S.O. Opowoye     Twitter     Ilesha Gwanara Road     Gabriel Fashanu     Popo-Igbonna     Code Of Conduct     Mubarak Oladosu     Wahab Egbewole     Kwara TV     Abdulrahman Abdullahi Kayode     Teachers Specific Allowance     Igbomina     Ayotunde Emmanuel Alao     Ahmad Lawan     Muslim Stakeholders Of Kwara State     Mutawali Of Ilorin     Village Alive Development Association     Post Utme     Press Release     Oya State     Christopher Ayeni     Oniye     Patigi Regatta     Saduki Lafiagi     Chief Imam Of Omu-Aran     Mary Kemi Adeosun     Abdulganiy Abimbola Abdussalam     Presidential Election     Ophthalmological Society Of Nigeria     Kawu     Bayer AG     Zaratu Umar     Saliu Alamoyo     Agor Market     Yusuf Badmus     Kayode Oyin Zubair     Amule Elementary School     Mary Arinde     Share     Gbajabiamila     Ibrahim Jawondo     Arinola Fatimoh Lawal     Oni Adebayo