The Minister of Culture, Art and Creative Economy, Barr. Hannatu Musa- Musawa on Tuesday, said that the Federal Government was considering plans to list the annual Ojude Oba Festival of the Ijebu people in Ogun State as one of the of the festivals backed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
Musa-Musawa said that the annual festival aligns with the President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda mandate for the ministry which seeks to take revenue generation from tourism to over $100bn by 2030.
The Minister, who was represented by the Director of Cultural Agencies and Heritage, Dr Ben Ugo Anama, stated at 2024 festival at Awujale’s pavilion, Ijebu-Ode.
The global festival which showcases the rich cultural heritage and endowments of the people of Ijebuland is celebrated every third day of Eid-el-Adha.
The festival with theme for this year’s celebrations is “Ojude Oba: Unity and Harmony, Our Gift,” is a year event meant to pay homage to to the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona who received over 100 age grades group of males and females (Regberegbes) dressed glamorously to greet him and he in turn, poured his royal blessings upon them.
The horse riders who are from the warrior families in Ijebuland were also on hand to thrill the fun seekers to various acrobatic displays with their horses
The Minister described the festival as a platform to foster the unity of the country in diversity as well as one of the country’s tourism potentials that could be tapped into to diversify the economy from oil and generates more revenue for the nation
She said,: “in line with the President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the ministery will always to collaborate with stakeholders to promote, preserve and protect the rich cultural heritage of our nation to ensure it reaches its enviable height according to our vision for the Ministry called destination 2030
“This vision considers the potentials in arts, culture and creative economy in terms of its ability to create economic expansion. Our ambitious goals is predicated on this drive which is capable of yielding over $100bn, an increase in the gross domestic product by the year 2030”.
She said that the presidential renewed hope agenda especially for the ministry demonstrated unwavering commitment to diversify the economy and move away from the country’s over depedence on oil revenue.
While rejoicing with the sons and daughters of Ijebuland over the success of the festival and the good image it has given the country over the years, Barr Musa-Musawa said that she had also observed that the festival has not gotten no elements of UNESCO approval as one of its approved festival.
The Minister said that the status of a festival like Ojude-Oba with its profound impacts in the tourism sector of the country deserves to be listed by the international body vowing to activate all the processes to get this done without further delay.
Speaking at the event, the governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun hailed Ojude-Oba and described it as a festival that has given Ijebuland and indeed, the people of Ogun State a distinct identity.
Gov Abiodun said that
the festival has become a catalyst for the development of Ijebuland land and this underscores the essence of preserving our rich cultural heritage
While rejoicing with the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona and other sons and daughters of Ijebuland over this year’s celebrations, the governor promised to partner with the Federal government to develop the festival and make it a global tourist attraction and destination
The governor said that the theme of the celebration was quite apt as unity and harmony remains the bedrock of any thriving society calling for a more united force to lift the country out of its present woes.
Dignitaries at the event include former Governors Olusegun Osoba and Gbenga Daniel.
Others were the Deputy Governor Noimot Salako-Oyedele; Sen Shuib Salis (Ogun Central); Speaker Daisi Elemide; wife of Ondo Deputy Governor, Mrs Abosede Adelami; wife of former President Mrs Bola Obasanjo; the Accountant General of the Federation, Dr Mrs Oluwatoyin Madein and others.
