FG Set To Fund 10 Cultural Festivals

The federal government says it would revive and fund about 10 cultural festivals in the country this year, including the Opobo International Boat Regatta.

Minister for Culture/Tourism and National Orientation Alhaji Mohammed Sadiq Abubakar gave the hint while declaring open this year’s Opobo International Boat Regatta at Opobo Town last weekend.

Speaking through a Director in the Ministry, Mrs. Lizzy Iwezue Iwu- Amadi, the minister stated that the essence is to encourage cultural revival and tourism within the country.

He decried the setback which most cultural festivals in the country, have suffered and blamed the situation to charges in administration, while assuring that the Federal Government would improve the situation this year.

The Minister while commending the commitment of Opobo people in hosting the regatta festival noted that the boat regatta festival provides a major tourism window both for the country and the Niger Delta in general.

In his remarks, Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon Chibuike Amaechi who was represented by Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari described the festival as a thing of pride to the state and therefore commended Opobo Kingdom for initiating it.

She pledged government’s support to the festival, adding that the ongoing Ogoni/Andoni/Opobo Unity Road when completed would boost the festival.

Earlier in his remarks, the Amayanabo of Opobo Kingdom and the custodian of the OIB, King Dandeson Jaja decried the poor funding the festival has suffered over the years.

Despite the poor funding, he noted that the festival has continued to run because of the commitment and the expected future gains.

In his words, “OIB is a ticket to bring the world to Nigeria because it would drive social and economic interactions between  outside and Nigeria”.

This year’s festival witnessed participants from Ghana, and Cross River State with the Obong of Calabar and other traditional rulers from the country were present at the closing ceremony.