The Coordinator of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams, has said that the celebration of Olokun Festival will promote tourism and cultural integration in the country. Adams said this on Sunday in Lagos at a news conference organised to announce programmes earmarked for the 13th edition of the festival.
Adams, who is also the initiator of Olokun Festival,said that the ceremony was mainly to showcase the cultural values and tradition of the Yoruba.
The coordinator said the celebration had provided an opportunity for prominent people and dignitaries to come to Nigeria from every part of the world.
“Tourists and adventurers annually come from across the globe to Nigeria to witness and see for themselves the beauty inherent in the Yoruba culture.
“The reason for celebrating Olokun festival annually is borne out of our desire to project the Yoruba culture to the world.
“As a foremost institution poised to promote the Yoruba culture, Olokun Festival Foundation, under my leadership, is determined to set the pace for cultural integration and tourism development in Nigeria.
“Nigeria is a blessed nation, but we can only make lasting impact on the world if we appreciate our culture and make our tourist sites attractive to the world,” Adams said.
He noted that the celebration was an avenue for people to see the beauty of the Yoruba’s abandoned culture and “how we can regain our lost glory through the festival”.
He assured that 2015 Olokun celebration would give the best pastime for participants at home as well as others from other parts of the world.
“It is my belief that as we roll out the drums to celebrate this year’s Olokun festival, it will open a new chapter of progress in the annals of this country.
“It will also create a window of opportunities for Nigerians who share the same dream of a great nation as we do,” Adams Said. (NAN)
Comments