Federal Government is considering listing the Ojude Oba Festival, an annual celebration of the Ijebu people in Ogun State, as a UNESCO-backed festival.
Gatekeepers News reports that the Minister of Culture, Art and Creative Economy, Barr. Hannatu Musa-Musawa, announced the plans, noting that the festival aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to generate over $100 billion in tourism revenue by 2030.
The Ojude Oba Festival, held on the third day of Eid-el-Adha, showcases the rich cultural heritage of Ijebuland and pays homage to the Awujale and Paramount Ruler, Oba Sikiru Adetona. The festival features age-grade groups, horse-riding displays, and traditional attire, music, and dance.
Musa-Musawa described the festival as a platform for unity and diversity, and a potential tourist attraction to diversify the economy. She committed to collaborating with stakeholders to promote and preserve the cultural heritage and vowed to activate the process for UNESCO approval without delay.
Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun hailed the festival as a distinct identity for Ijebuland and Ogun State and promised to partner with the Federal Government to develop it into a global tourist attraction.
