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Olojo festival unveils logo

By Florence Utor
25 September 2016   |   2:00 am
Activities to kick start this years edition of the Olojo festival began with the unveiling of the festivals logo at the Palace of the Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi ...
Olojo festival logo unveiled by the Ooni

Olojo festival logo unveiled by the Ooni

Activities to kick start this years edition of the Olojo festival began with the unveiling of the festivals logo at the Palace of the Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, last weekend, at Ile-Ife, Osun State.

The Olojo festival is significant to Ile-Ife and all the Yorubaland, where Ogun is worshipped.

According to the Director General of the Office of Economic Development and Partnerships (OEDP), Dr. Charles ‘Diji Akinola,
“Olojo is one of the oldest festivals in Ife. It is celebrated all over Yorubaland in honour of Ogun, the god of iron.”

He disclosed that the Ooni is supporting the festival, as a way of promoting tourism and showcasing our culture. He noted that the festival would be branded, presented in modern form to reinforce the notion of Ife as a foremost cultural and tourism centre.

Citing the example of the yearly pilgrimage to Mecca, Jerusalem and Rome, which are distinct economies that sustain these countries, Akinola said, “beyond cultural projection, there is the economic imperative of tourism. We can build a thriving economy around our culture and monuments.”

He stated that the festival alone is enough to give Osun State a buoyant economy, make her one of the richest states in the country.

“We can tap into the Yoruba Diaspora population, make them to come to Ife on yearly pilgrimage. There are at least 12 monuments and sites in Ile-Ife that are of international standard. These monuments are: National Museum, Ooni’s Palace, Enuwa Area, Agbonniregun Temple, Oke-Itase Street, Oranmiyan Staff, Mopa Area, Arubidi, Zoological Garden, Obafemi Awolowo University Campus, Oluorogbo Temple, Ilode Street, Igbo-Olokun Shrine, Ilode Street and others.”

Akinola noted that if these sites are developed and marketed, they will generates jobs in arts and craft, transportation services, hospitality services and entertainment and also in other sectors.
The Festival begins on October 10 through 17, 2016.

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