The Federal Government has
promised to support current efforts aimed at projecting ijakadi Offa Festival
to limelight.
The Minister of Information
and Culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammad gave the assurance at grand finale of the 2016
Ijakadi Offa Festival held at Olofa stadium yesterday.
Represented by the General
Manager of Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) Ilorin, Adeyemi Arologun,
the minister said the sheer splendor of the festival and the impressive turnout
of people from within and outside Offa showed that it has what it takes to
attract domestic and international tourists to Offa, thus making a positive
impact on the economy of the town and indeed that of the entire Kwara
State
To make this a reality, we
at the Federal Ministry of Information and culture will provide the enabling
environment for the festival to achieve its full potentials.
The starting point is that
we will include those managing the event in the list of festival managers to be
trained under our collaboration with our partners. As you may be aware, the
training of festival mangers is contained in the memorandum of understanding
(MoU) that we signed with the British Council,’’ headed.
Also, the Kwara State
Government has commended the Olofa of Offa, His Royal Majesty, Oba Muftau
Gbadamosi, Esuwoye II, for sustaining the rich culture of the people.
The
governor of Kwara state, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed, who was represented by the
commissioner of Environment, Otunba Taiwo Joseph, congratulated Oba Gbadamosi,
and entire Offa people for sustaining the rich cultural heritage of the people;
‘’I must also commend your Royal Highness and Offa Descendant Union (ODU) for
sustaining this festival,’’ he added.
The event witnessed the
traditional and symbolic wrestling bout between Olofa of Offa and High Chief
Eassa of Offa.
Earlier,
various groups, societies and ODU branches have paid homages to the Olofa of
Offa and made their financial contribution towards the development of the
community.
