Cultural stakeholders and traditional leaders have issued a strong call for government investment in Nigeria's cultural sector, identifying it as a powerful engine for economic growth and foreign earnings. This urgent appeal was made during the vibrant two-day annual Ijakadi festival held in Offa, Kwara State, organized by the Offa Descendants Union (ODU).
Cultural Heritage as a Revenue Alternative
The paramount ruler of Offa Kingdom, Oba Muftau Gbadamosi, addressed journalists at his palace, emphasizing the untapped economic potential of Nigeria's traditions. The monarch asserted that with proper preservation and strategic remodelling, cultural heritage could become a significant alternative revenue stream for both state and federal governments. He stressed that culture should be added to the nation's portfolio of viable businesses, contingent upon receiving adequate and consistent support from all tiers of government.
Echoing this sentiment, Waheed Olagunju, Chairman of the festival's Media, Publicity, Marketing and Sponsorship Committee, highlighted the intrinsic link between culture and modern development. He charged the Federal Government to actively explore the business potential embedded within cultural advancement, noting that substantial economic value can be generated from well-packaged cultural activities and festivals.
The Symbolism and Global Potential of Ijakadi
Cultural enthusiast and Director of Biohistocultural Resource Hub, Comrade Lukman Afolabi, provided deep insight into the festival's symbolism. He described Ijakadi as representing core values of fairness, justice, and equity, illustrated by the wrestlers beginning from equal positions of strength. He likened the ritual of the Odofa (a chief) cutting a yam into two equal halves while blindfolded to the universal symbol of blindfolded justice.
Afolabi, who also serves as the Kwara State chairman of the Campaign for Democratic and Human Rights (CDHR), proposed an ambitious vision for the festival. He called for strategic packaging of the Ijakadi festival to pursue UNESCO recognition and align it with the African Union’s Vision 2063. This vision encourages communities to protect their heritage and build shared values through sustained investment, positioning local culture on the global stage.
Government Support and Future Projections
Representing the Kwara State Governor, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina El-Imam, acknowledged the gradual disappearance of culture from modern life. She affirmed the state government's commitment to supporting cultural revival initiatives, citing Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq's administration's decision to repair the township stadium—the festival's usual venue—as a concrete demonstration of this commitment.
The private sector also voiced strong support. Abdulhakeem Oyewale, Chief Executive Officer of Marble Capital, described the festival as a robust display of Offa's cultural strength within Yorubaland. He projected that with proper support, the event has the capacity to generate substantial government revenue and, within five years, attract visitors from across Nigeria and beyond.
The Olofa of Offa, Oba Gbadamosi, described this year's celebration as more colourful than previous editions. He passionately appealed to Offa indigenes, both at home and in the diaspora, to prioritize attending the annual event. "Offa is not a cemetery where people are brought for burial. Please come home from wherever you are and identify with your community," he urged.
The festival's programme was rich and diverse, featuring:
- Stage plays depicting the origin of Offa and the Ijakadi tradition.
- Fashion and beauty contests.
- A theatrical presentation on Moremi Ajasoro by the Offa branch of the Theatre Arts Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAPAN).
The collective message from the event was clear: deliberate investment in culture is not merely a social imperative but a strategic economic decision for Nigeria's future.
