The Minister of Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hanatu Musawa, on Sunday said that President Bola Tinubu is committed to making Nigeria the greatest black nation on earth with the export of the country’s rich cultural heritage to the outside world.
Musawa equally said that the Federal Government is ready to collaborate with the state government to develop its tourism sector to boost job creation, economic expansion, and accelerate national prosperity.
The minister stated this while speaking at this year’s Ojude Oba festival held at the Awujale pavilion, Ijebu Ode.
The annual cultural celebration, which is held three days after the celebration of Eid-el-Kabir, provides an opportunity for the people of Ijebu land, who usually dress in various beautiful attires to pay homage to the Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebu land, Oba Sikiru Adetona.
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 subnational governments whereby we will do a collaboration and partnership so that… 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 putting together such a beautiful cultural festival, lauding the Awujale, Oba Adetona, for doing so much to preserve the cultural heritage even for the generation yet unborn.
The minister noted that Ojude Oba is a huge economic expansion, applauding the collaboration between the FG and Ogun State.
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 resource of Ogun State.”
Also speaking, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, said that Ojude Oba has grown beyond just a festival but a living heritage, a catalyst for economic growth, and a platform that helps to promote national unity despite the country’s diversity.
Abiodun said, ‘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 fragmentation, this festival stands as a 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, Ojude Oba festival is a vibrant display of our beautiful culture, our pride, values, and our continuity.
The governor stated that his government will continue to promote the cultural heritage not only for the benefit of the Ijebu people but for the enrichment of humanity at large.
He added that festivals like Ojude Oba are crucial to his administration’s vision to develop the tourism sector to create more economic opportunities and attract global visibility.
The governor said that the global festival, as a veritable platform to promote national cohesion, has equally become a dynamic engine of tourism, youth empowerment, and entrepreneurship, and therefore, his government will leave no stone unturned to ensure that the growth and development of the festival is not hindered.
Meanwhile, the Director of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, Rite Foods, Mr Ekuma Eze, said that the food company and one of the sponsors of this year’s celebration fed over 21000 of the guests and tourists who came to savour the rich cultural celebration.
Ekuma said that the magnanimity of the company stems from its commitment to helping in preserving the rich cultural heritage of the Nigerian people while also fulfilling its core mandate of giving back to the people.
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 21000 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 highly 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 the governor of Ondo State, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, 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, Engr. 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, Alhaji Sulaiman Adegunwa, Ogbeni Oja of Ijebu land, Dr Sunny Kuku, Speaker of the state assembly, Daisi Elemide, among others.
