On Sunday, the Minister of Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hanatu Musawa, avowed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to making Nigeria the greatest black nation.
She said this would be achieved by leveraging the opportunities to promote the nation’s culture and creativity.
The minister stated this at this year’s Ojude Oba festival held at the Awujale pavilion, Ijebu Ode.
Towards achieving this goal, Musawa asserted the readiness of the Federal Government to collaborate with state governments to develop the tourism sector.
This, in turn, she noted, would boost job creation, and economic expansion and accelerate national prosperity.
Musawa said, “President Bola Tinubu is strongly committed to making us the greatest black nation on earth; to making us one of the strongest economies.
“One of the ways he wants to do it is for us to leverage and tap into the opportunities that abound in the cultural and creative landscape.
“Recently, President Bola Tinubu announced a collaboration between the federal and sub-nationals. We will also work with the private sector to tap into the unique peculiarities of every single state.”
She hailed the people of Ijebu land for consistently putting together a beautiful cultural festival, as she lauded the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebu land, Oba Sikiru Adetona, for preserving the cultural heritage for the unborn generation.
She noted the need for sustained collaboration between the FG and Ogun State to export the Ijebu culture thereby expanding the economy of the state and nation, at large.
She said, “We can increase our visibility; we can bring job creation by looking at what the culture and tradition have to offer. This culture is your ideal, it’s your tradition, it’s who we are as a people and we are extremely proud.
“This is a beautiful culture. This is a culture that we must continue to export and use as a form of economic expansion.
“For me as a Nigerian, I’m proud to be part of this community. I feel honoured to be here and I am looking forward to enacting that important vision that President Bola Tinubu has by tapping into the rich resources of Ogun State.”
The annual Ojude Oba celebration is held on the third day after the celebration of Eid-el-Kabir.
It provides an opportunity for the people of Ijebu land, who are usually dressed in various beautiful attires, to pay homage to the Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebu land, Oba Sikiru Adetona.
The revered 91-year-old monarch, who was conspicuously absent at this year’s celebration, was, however, represented by his wife, Olori Kemi Adetona.
The absence of the traditional ruler, according to an impeccable source who preferred to remain anonymous, was due to old age.
Dignitaries at this year’s celebration included Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State; Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State, represented by his deputy, Dr Olayide Adelami; former governor of Ogun State and senator representing Ogun East, Gbenga Daniel; senator representing Ogun Central, Shuaib Salisu and the Deputy Governor, Mrs Noimot Salako-Oyedele.
Others were the wife of the state governor, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun; former governor of the state, Chief Olusegun Osoba; the Asiwaju of Ijebu land and Chairman of Rite Foods, Sulaiman Adegunwa; Ogbeni Oja of Ijebu land, Dr Sunny Kuku, Speaker of the state assembly, Daisi Elemide, among others.
Speaking at the event, Abiodun said Ojude Oba had grown beyond being just a festival to “a living heritage, a catalyst for economic growth and a platform which helps to promote national unity despite the country’s diversity.”
He added, “Ojude Oba is more than a festival, it is a living heritage; it connects us to our roots and offers direction for a rapidly changing world.
“In an era marked by social fragmentations, this festival stands as the flagship symbol of communal harmony where religion, tradition and modernity coexist beautifully under a shared identity.
“From the beautiful parade of the Regberegbe to the majestic display of the horse riders, the Ojude Oba festival is a vibrant display of our beautiful culture, our pride, values and our continuity.”
The governor promised that his government would continue to promote the cultural heritage “not only for the benefit of the Ijebu people but for the enrichment of humanity at large.”
He said, “Festivals like Ojude Oba are crucial to my administration’s vision to develop the tourism sector, create more economic opportunities and attract global visibility.
“The global festival is a veritable platform to promote national cohesion and has equally become a dynamic engine of tourism, youth empowerment and entrepreneurship. Therefore, my government will leave no stone unturned to ensure that the growth and development of the festival is not hindered,” Abiodun said.
Meanwhile, the Director of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Rite Foods, which is one of the sponsors, reported that over 21,000 witnessed the celebration.
He said, “We are passionate about enhancing the socio-economic well-being of our communities and preservation of the beautiful culture of our dear nation.
“So our sponsorship and support for the Ojude Oba festival comes from all of these and by my record, we have fed over 21,000 with our various brands of drinks and sausage. So, we are here to thrill the Ijebu people and all who have come from all over the world to be part of this celebration of global ranking.”
The Punch
