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.
National Information Technology Development Agency General Hospital, Ilorin Hauwa Nuru Garuba Alikinla Shittu Ajia-Bako Adisa Logun Bello John Olanrewaju Bature Bello Rashidi Yekini Haleeman Salman Isaac Aderemi Kolawole Sango-UITH Road Shehu Adaramaja Olawuyi Code Of Conduct Pacify Labs Shehu Jimoh Sheikh Hamzat Yusuf Ariyibi Okanlawon Musa IPSAS Moshood Kashimawo Abiola Radio Kwara Umar Yakubu Jaja Kwara State Geographic Information Service Temi Kolawole Abdullahi Saadudeen Alikinla Assayomo Balogun Fulani International Public Sector Accounting Standards Olatunji Ibrahim Umaru Saro Umar Danladi Shero VADA Halimah Perogi Government High School Adeta Mutawalle Garba Ado Sanni Saliu Alamoyo Waziri Yakubu Gobir Iyiola Oyedepo Belgore Yahaya Abdulkareem Babaita Saka Saadu Abdullateef Abdussalam Abdulkadir Bolakale Sakariyah Tunji Oyawoye Wahab Olasupo Egbewole Shao Sulu Gambari QuickWin Mashood Dauda Kwara 2019 Abubakar Suleiman KWTV Olatunde Jare Yusuf Lawal Nigeria Computer Society Rafiu Ibrahim ITP Aisha Ahman Pategi Quareeb Islamic Association Kwara Central IDPU Abdulwahab Olarewaju Issa Olokoba Sulyman Abubakar Bature Sulu-Gambari Bukola Saraki Bukola Ajikobi Olateju Lukman Okala Baba ASUU Share-Tsaragi Yusuf Abdulwahab Gobir Bayo Onimago Saka Keji Makama Of Kaiama

