‘We will use our culture to promote tourism’
As this year’s Oodua cultural festival kicks off in Ile-Ife, Osun state today, the Olokun festival foundation has promised that festival will draw scores of enthusiastic residents and guests, especially multitude of members of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) from several states of the south west of Nigeria.
Unveiling the program of activities for the annual festival, the chief promoter, Otunba Gani Adams, who is also the National Coordinator of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), said the festival is held in honour of Oduduwa, the progenitor of the Yoruba race and the source of the name of the organisation.
“Our vision at Olokun festival foundation is to use these festivals for dual purposes. While the festivals are organised to celebrate our heroes and forefathers, they also serve the purpose of attracting tourists to our land.”
According to him, “there is no time better than now to remind the coming generation of the Yoruba race of the importance of following the footsteps of our progenitors because it becomes even more important today when we look at the trend among youths where getting rich first is the vogue. This has led to many vices like fraud, armed robbery, prostitution and kidnaping. Children of Oduduwa must not be found engaging themselves in such act.”
On the programs for the event, he disclosed that the festival will kick starts with the Miss Oodua beauty pageant, which he promised will be a night to remember for lovers of African beauty.”
While promising that the grand finale at the palace of the Oni of Ife will offer local and international tourists excitement like never before.
Otunba Gani said the foundation will not relent in introducing new festivals in addition to the Oodua and Olokun festivals as they are interested in using our culture to promote to tourism.
“The history and culture of any race play very vital role in how people would develop. China and India are two countries that have used their cultural heritage to motivate their people and their economy.
