This year’s edition of the Osun-Osogbo festival ended on Friday with Gov. Rauf Aregbesola promising sustained support for the popular cultural event.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that monarchs, devotees, masqueraders as well as traditional religion worshippers paid homage to the host of the festival and Ataoja of Osogboland, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, at the Osun-Osogbo grove.
Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, in his remarks at the occasion, said the state government would continue to support the festival to ensure its sustainability and growth.
Aregbesola, who was represented by the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr Olawale Adebisi, said the festival provides the largest platform for tradition and culture to be exhibited.
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“It is also the largest gathering of youths; so it provides a channel for transfer of culture and tradition to the younger generation,’’ he added.
The governor also said the festival “ brings about economic development, as tourists who come for the festival would lodge and spend their money which improves the state economy.”
He called on the Ataoja to use the occasion to pray for Nigeria and Osun, especially as the governorship election was drawing near.
The governor also asked the monarch to pray for victory for the ruling All Progressives Congress so as to sustain its developmental initiatives.
Mrs Taiwo Oluga, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Culture and Tourism, called for more support from stakeholders for the promotion of culture and heritage.
Oluga, who paid tributes to the Ataoja for successfully hosting this year’s edition of the festival, said the event deserved the support of all stakeholders.
Olanipekun, in his remarks, thanked all the partners and sponsors who made the festival a success as well as traditional rulers and dignitaries who attended the event.
Source: NAN
