Posted by By SOLA BALOGUN, Kebbi on
President Umaru Yar'Adua has promised to use cultural festivals to foster peace and unity among Nigerians in addition to raising revenue for the country.
President Umaru Yar'Adua has promised to use cultural festivals to foster peace and unity among Nigerians in addition to raising revenue for the country.
The president made the pledge through the Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode at the opening ceremony of this year's Argungu International Fishing Festival.
The minister reiterated government's commitment to the seven- point agenda of the Yar'Adua administration, saying that economic activities should be extended to culture and tourism also.
He also spoke on the importance of festivals like Argungu which started in 1934 when the Sultan visited Argungu.
He described the festival as one of the key components for the reconciliation of the country and to reconsolidate the Nigerian nationhood experience, after the civil war in 1970.
The minister disclosed that the Federal Government has listed 12 festivals as national festivals in the cultural calendar of the world. He noted that Argungu happens to be one of the festivals. Kayode also re-affirmed government's desire to make the festivals generate revenue in accordance with the seven-point agenda of his administration.
He explained that it is the desire of the Yar'Adua administration to empower Nigerians through cultural activities such as the Argungu International Fishing Festival. Meanwhile, about 3,000 fishermen are expected to feature at this year's fishing expedition opening tomorrow, even as he promised that next year more fishermen shall be invited from outside the sate.
The minister also commissioned an NTDC house in Kebbi, which has the shape of a fish. Already, there is heavy presence of policemen at the festival's venue, to ensure tight security.