The Ekiti State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has reinstated its commitment to support, rebrand and promote cultural festivals in the state.
Director-General, Ekiti State Council for Arts and Culture, Ambassador Wale Ojo-Lanre, made this disclosure while hosting executive members of the Ogun-Onire Carnival Promotion Forum in his Ado Ekiti office on Tuesday.
Ojo -Lanre emphasized that the vision of the governor is to imprint boldly the name, cultural values and tradition of the state on the world cultural map.
While speaking on Ogun Onire festival, Ojo Lanre commended the initiatives of the forum and other stakeholders for widening the scope of celebrating the great African deity.
Ogun (God of iron) is one of the prominent deities in the world, there is no way Yoruba history will be written without mentioning the role of Ogun and its product, iron on the economic development of the world.
He charged the organisers of Ogun-Onire festival in the state to ensure decency, civility and peace in the celebration of the festival.
“I’m happy you’re ready to review the way the festival is being celebrated to make it more visitor-friendly and coordinated.
“It must be civil, it must be decent, it must be free of violence. Let us change the paradigm. Let us have a first class international Ogun festival that will place the Ogun festival in the global cultural map”.
Ojo-Lanre also stressed that whoever is not proud of his culture is not supposed to live.
“We shouldn’t forget our root. Our culture is our identity. It is of note that India, South Korea, among other great countries do not forget their culture. They took civilisation and education from the British, but they don’t forget about their culture,” he noted.
Ojo-Lanre further said, “I respect culture, and tradition. But they must be practises with civility, decency and without any violence. We must endeavour to change the paradigm.
“I’m happy you’re ready to review the way Ogun-Onire festival is being celebrated to make it more visitor-friendly and coordinated. Let us work towards having a first class international Ogun festival that will place it on the global cultural map.”
Earlier in his speech, the Chairman of the group, Chief Femi Ajayi, commended Governor Fayemi over the appointment of Ojo-Lanre as the Ekiti State Council for Arts and Culture boss, which he described as a round peg in a round hole.
Ajayi also commended Ojo-Lanre for partnering with relevant stakeholders to promote arts and culture in the state.
He revealed the plans of the group to sensitise the people of the state on how to celebrate Ogun-Onire festival in a more friendly and peaceful manner, and also promote the festival internationally.
Ajayi also disclosed the readiness of the community to work with the government in the development of Ureru groove and others around in order to make the place a tourism sites
