The Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has called for greater private sector participation in the promotion of cultural tourism because of its significance in socio-economic transformation of the country.

Governor Ahmed who made the call at the weekend on the occasion of the 57th celebration of Patigi Boat Regatta and Durbar at Patigi in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State, said enhanced involvement of the private sector in cultural tourism sector was necessary as governments alone could not promote tourism development.

He noted that many nations enact policies for the promotion of Arts and Culture to promote and protect their cultural identities. The governor asserted that “concerted efforts must be continuously made by the entire populace to ensure the sustainability of the festival as well as collaborations with the private sector for revenue generation”.

Governor Ahmed, who described the Patigi Regatta as a unique cultural festival among the Nupe people living along the banks of River Niger in both Kwara and Nigeria states, recalled that the regatta served as a platform for resolving communal conflicts.

The governor promised that his administration would support the Patigi Boat Regatta and other programmes that impacted positively on the socio-economic development of the people in the rural areas.

The chairman of Patigi local government, Alhaji Lata Tauheed, in his speech said the Regatta, though essentially a sporting event on the River Niger, also serves as a platform for display of agricultural products in order to carry along upland farmers and exhibit economic potentials of the community.