By Dayo Johnson, Akure

AN 11-year old primary school pupil Sunday Akinwunmi recently given scholarship after emerging as the best mountain climber during the Mare Festival in Ondo State is to travel to Dubai this weekend.

Akinwunmi emerged the best mountain climber during the Mare festival in 2009.“Consequently, Governor Olusegun Mimiko promised that scholarship would be given to him and that he would travel abroad to expose him to tourism sites and would interact with international mountain climbers. He was to travel to Spain last year but he and other government official were denied visas.

Speaking with newsmen in Akure, the Culture and Tourism Commissioner, Deji Falae, said that Sunday had been enjoying government scholarship since the day the governor gave the directive.“Falae pointed out that the government scholarship is to the university level.

The commissioner said that Sunday’s father would accompany him on the journey.“On this year’s edition of Mare festival, the commissioner said that it has been slated for 15 through 17 December this year. Falae said that this year’s edition would be unique and would attract world attention.

According to him international climbers across the world would be witnessing this year’s edition.“Notable artists across the country are billed to witness the 2011 Mare festival.“During last year’s edition, no fewer than 35 school children from age ten and above were trained in the modern techniques and art of mountaineering by a team of mountain climbers from Spain.

The training of the young mountain climbers, described by some of the beneficiaries as an eye-opener in mountaineering, took place on some of the several hills dotting the ancient Idanre town for three days.

Mimiko, who presided over the three-day festival, told the participants that the government was committed to making Idanre a cynosure of eyes around the globe through the continued promotion of the natural tourism endowments of Idanre Hills.

“He said, “As you all know, tourism has become one of the fastest growing economic sector in both the developed and the developing nations of the world. Today no country can afford to neglect tourism. Ondo State is fortunate to be blessed in terms of tourism endowment of which Idanre Hills is one. “Mare Festival” was therefore conceived as an annual cultural event to promote tourism.

“Idanre Hills is an old heritage site with a peculiar landscape. In the pursuit of the 12-point agenda of my government, we are determined to develop Idanre Hills as a pilot project to launch Ondo State into the global tourism market