The Federal government says it has concluded plans to include the Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival in the calendar of Nigerian festivals.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed made this known at the publicity event for the 2020 Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival held in Abuja.
The Minister noted that the ministry has made it a priority to attend all cultural festivals in the country as a way of raising their visibility.
This is as the Director General, National Automotive Design and Development Council, Mr. Jelani Aliyu announced that locally assembled cars will be used during the car race, as part of the festival.
Meanwhile, the Minister was at the event conferred with the title of Kakaki, Kebbi (Culture Ambassador).
The Argungu fishing festival which started in 1934 in honour of the visiting Sultan of Sokoto Late Malam Hassan Dan Mu’azu to mark an end of hostility between the jihadists and the Kabawa has since turned into an international festival. The festival which use to be a yearly celebration was however put on hold since 2010 due to insecurity.
The internationally recognized Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival is being revived after a 10-year hiatus. This year’s festival has been slated for 11-14 of March 2020.
Speaking at the press conference, the minister said, “As you are all aware, the globally-recognized Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival is being revived after a 10-year hiatus. This is delightful news, considering the fact that this festival is one of the most widely attended festivals in Nigeria and the oldest festival of its kind, dating back many generations.
” What many may not know is that this festival was also inscribed in 2016 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.”
The List was created to ensure better protection of important intangible cultural heritages worldwide and the awareness of their significance.
“For us at the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, we attach a great importance to this festival, just like many of our great festivals nationwide. This explains why we are leaving no stone unturned in ensuring the maximum publicity for the forthcoming festival. We are going to Argungu next week with a battery of journalists from here in order to help raise the profile of the festival. We will be using the new and traditional media to put the 2020 Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival on the national and international map. The festival deserves no less.”
“We have also included the Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival in the Calendar of Nigerian Festivals which we are now set to publish. With this Calendar, domestic and international tourists can plan their attendance of the various festivals with ease.”
At the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, we have made it our priority to raise the visibility of our cultural festivals by attending as many of them as possible. Only two weekends ago, I was also in Kebbi State, with a media entourage, to attend the Yauri Regatta Festival. I have also attended the Puus Kaat Festival in Mangu, Plateau; the Nzem Berom Festival in Jos, also in Plateau and the Ijakadi Festival in Kwara State, among others.”
These festivals, the minister added, “are the rich ingredients for the enhancement of tourism in Nigeria, and they are part of the Creative Industry which is one of the areas the federal government relies on for the diversification of the economy away from oil. They do not only enhance the economy, they also provide jobs, especially for women and the youth.”
Also, the Director General, National Automotive Design and Development Council, Mr. Jelani Aliyu said the motor rally will provide opportunity for local car producers and drivers to showcase their capabilities.
His words, “The Argungu fishing festival is an event of immeasurable importance, excitement and heritage to not just the people of Argungu, to not just Kebbi, to not just Nigeria but the world in general. It is an event that showcases the incredible, wisdom, virtue and prowess of our people.
“As we know, an integral part of Argungu fishing festival is the motor rally. This is an event that allows producers of vehicles and drivers to show the competency and the incredible capability of vehicles. This year, this race will be with vehicles assembled in Nigeria God willing to showcase the capability of all these vehicles.
“We are working very closely with these assemblers to have their vehicles race and showcase their capabilities.
“To us in NATDC, this will allow of the opportunity to show our commitment to move this industry forward to show that many Nigerians have been part of the industry.”
The race he said will commence from Abuja through Nasarawa and then Kaduna, Kano, Zamfara, Sokoto and then through Kebbi and finish at the ancient city of Argungu. He therefore promised to work with Kebbi state to ensure that the race is successful.
The Chairman main Organizing Committee, Argungu Fishing Festival (AFF) 2020, Alhaji Sama’ila Yombe, Deputy Governor, Kebbi state said this year’s festival is considered as a “revival” festival and it is going to be unlike any other before it.
He said, “As you are aware, the festival used to be an annual event. But because of security concerns in the country, the hosting of the festival was put on hold, with the last one held in 2009. In the course of the hiatus, therefore, we have further improved on all the activities associated with this important cultural event. For this reason, the 2020 festival, is unlike any other before it, as it is considered as a “revival” festival but will make all necessary efforts to give lasting impression d satisfaction to anyone opportune to witness it. ”
He therefore invited tourists from around the world to the 2020 Argungu International fishing festival, assuring them of their safety.
“As we look forward to receiving all guests. I would like to assure you that Kebbi state remains one of the most peaceful and secured states in Nigeria,” he added.
The Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Sama’ila Muhammed Mera had earlier commended the Federal government for its role in reviving the festival and thanked the minister of Information and Culture for the listing of the festival on the Intangible cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO in 2016.
The list was created to ensure better protection of important intangible cultural heritage worldwide and the awareness of their significance.
In appreciation of what the minister had done to preserve the cultural heritage of the ancient city, the Emir of Argungu confreres on him the title of Kakaki (Culture Ambassador) Kebbi.
The minister was also presented with a sword and a shield as a symbol of office to the minister.
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