The federal government says it is working to list the annual Ojude Oba ceremony as one of the festivals backed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
The festival is an annual event held to celebrate the culture and traditions of the Ijebu people in Ogun state while paying homage to the Awujale and the paramount ruler of Ijebuland.
Speaking at the 2024 edition of the event, on Tuesday, Hannatu Musa Musawa, minister of art, culture and creative economy, said the festival has a profound impact on tourism and is capable of creating economic expansion.
According to NAN, the minister, represented by Ben Anama, director of cultural agencies and heritage, said the mandate of the ministry is to make revenue generation from tourism over $100 billion by 2030.
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“This vision considers the potentialities in arts, culture and creative economy, in terms of its ability to create economic expansion. Our ambitious goals are predicated on this drive, which is capable of yielding billions and increasing the Gross Domestic Product by the year 2030,” she said.
Dapo Abiodun, governor of Ogun, described the festival as an event that has given the Ijebuland and the people of Ogun a distinct identity.
He said the festival has also become a catalyst for the development and underscores the essence of preserving the rich cultural heritage of the Ijebu people.
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