By Oyibo Salihu
Lokoja
Kogi state Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, has pledged his administration’s support to any cultural festival that “seeks to unite Kogites and improve the state’s economic advancement.”
The governor made pledge recently in Lokoja when he received executive/foundation members of Ohueje Ohinoyi, a cultural body from Kogi central district, who paid him a courtesy visit.
Bello commended them for their creative minds, describing the project as “a good one capable of fostering unity among the people of Kogi central district as well as improving economic advancement of the state.”
He said the endorsement of the project by the paramount ruler of Kogi central, His Royal Majesty, Ado Ibrahim, “underscores the pivotal role the cultural festival could play in fostering unity and improving cultural rating of the region by outsiders.”
He said: “This will go a long way to also correcting the erroneous views associated with the culture of the region. The Hall of Fame exhibition proposed by members as an integral part of the festival could change the orientation of a lot of people, especially the restive youth, to begin to think and act in a positive way.”
Earlier, in his introductory remarks, the coordinator/chairman of Ohueje Ohinoyi Cultural Troupe, Malam Sheidu Adinoyi Tijani, told the governor that the royal festival was designed to cement fractured unity of Kogi central zone as well as enhancing the economic potential of Ebira district using its rich culture as a veritable platform.
Tijani urged women and youths of Ebira land to take the rare opportunity offered by the cultural festival and participate, adding that a delegation from Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) would be on hand to evaluate the possibility of engaging them on foreign exhibitions.
Also speaking, the secretary of the group, Mr. Onuvaye Adeiza Solomon, said the group appreciated the magnanimity of Kogi First Lady, Hajiya Rashidat Bello, for her interest and commitment towards successful hosting of week-long event.
Paramount ruler of Ebira, His Majesty, Ado Ibrahim, the Ohinoyi, had earlier in the year, endorsed the festival, saying that he was confident that the cultural festival would bring the much-needed unity and economic empowerment to youths and women of Kogi central.
