The National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) Director-General, Mr Obi Asika, has pledged the council's support to enhance the grandeur of the upcoming Ilorin Emirate Grand Durbar festival.

Mr Asika made the commitment on Tuesday, 6 May 2025, during a meeting in Abuja with a delegation from the Ilorin Emirate Durbar Committee, led by its Chairman, Engr. Sulaiman Yahaya Alapansanpa, FNSE.

He noted that he has closely followed the festival's revival and improvement since its revival in 2018 by the Emir of Ilorin, His Royal Highness Alhaji (Dr.) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, CFR.

Mr Asika assured that his council would be fully represented at this year's edition of the festival as he also said that efforts would be made to ensure that officials of various embassies also attended the programme to make it truly international.

Speaking earlier, Engr. Alapansanpa said that his visit was informed by the need to keep the council informed of the preparations for this year's edition of the festival and to formally invite the council to take active part.

Engr. Alapansanpa, who confirmed the increasing popularity and impacts of the annual festival on peace promotion and economic development, said that his Committee would leave no stone unturned at ensuring that this year's edition emerged the best so far.