Minister of Culture, Art and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa-Musawa, has said the federal government would approach the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to list the annual Ojude Oba Festival as one of those it approves and supports.
The minister was 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.
According to her, 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.
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.
The governor promised to partner with the federal government to develop the festival and make it a global tourist attraction and destination
