The Minister of Culture, Art and Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa-Musawa, on Tuesday, said the Federal Government would activate plans to list the annual Ojude Oba Festival as one of those approved and supported by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)
Represented by the Director of Cultural Agencies and Heritage, Dr Ben Anama, at the 2024 edition of the Ojude Oba Festival, held at the Awujale’s Pavilion in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, the minister said the festival was in tune with President Bola Tinubu’s mandate for the ministry, which seeks to take revenue generation from tourism to over $100 billion by 2030.
The global festival showcases the rich cultural heritage and endowments of the people of Ijebuland and is celebrated on the third day of Eid-el-Kabir.
The theme for this year’s celebration is “Ojude Oba: Unity and Harmony, Our Gift”.
The Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, who is the chief host of the colourful event, received the over 100 age grades group of males and females (Regberegbes) decked in resplendent attires, as they paid homage to him.
The horse riders from the warrior families in Ijebuland were also on hand to thrill the fun-seekers to various displays with their horses.
Also at the ceremony were the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun and the Deputy Governor, Mrs Noimot Salako-Oyedele; former governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, another former governor, Senator Gbenga Daniel and a host of other dignitaries.
The minister described the annual festival as a platform that fostered 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.
“In line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the ministry will always 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 potential in arts, culture and creative economy in terms of its ability to create economic expansion. Our ambitious goal is predicated on this drive, which is capable of yielding over $100 billion, an increase in the gross domestic product by the year 2030”, she said.
While rejoicing with the sons and daughters of Ijebuland over the success of the festival and the good image it had given the country over the years, Musa-Musawa said the status of a festival like Ojude-Oba, with its profound impacts in the tourism sector of the country, deserved to be listed by the international body.
Speaking at the event, Abiodun hailed Ojude-Oba and described it as a festival that had given Ijebuland and, indeed, the people of Ogun State a distinct identity.
Abiodun said the festival had become a catalyst for the development of Ijebuland and underscored the essence of preserving the rich cultural heritage
While rejoicing with Oba Adetona and the sons and daughters of Ijebuland, the governor promised to partner with the Federal Government to develop the festival and make it a global tourist attraction and destination.
He said the theme of the celebration was apt, as unity and harmony remained the bedrock of any thriving society, and he called for a more united force to lift the country out of its present woes.
Other dignitaries at the event included Senator Shuib Salis, representing Ogun Central at the Senate; the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Daisi Elemide; wife of former President of Nigeria, Mrs Bola Obasanjo; wife of the Ondo State Deputy Governor, Mrs Abosede Adelami, the Accountant General of the Federation, Dr (Mrs) Oluwatoyin Madein, among others.
