From Jimoh Ahmed, Owo

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The annual Igogo Festival in Owo, headquarters of Owo Local Government area of Ondo State, is being packaged to produce an economic impact of one billion dollars yearly by attracting tourists as a way of bringing economic fortunes to the ancient town.

The Olowo of Owo, Oba (Dr) Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, disclosed this on Thursday at a media parley with journalists held at the Ugha Nla, Olowo’s palace, while unveiling Igogo Festival brands for 2023/2024.

Oba Ogunoye posited that the festival will be exploited to attract huge visitors into the town to boost tourism which will eventually grow the economic base of the town and provide job opportunities for the youth.

Equally, the monarch said the festival will also showcase the diverse cultural heritage of the kingdom and lighten up her social life.

According to him, Igogo will open wealth creation avenues, boosts small scale businesses like cloth weaving and uplift the socioeconomic development of the place.

While disclosing his bid to make the festival an international carnival, the Olowo said some complimentary activities have been added to take off in the 2024 edition.

The major events to be added, according to the monarch are the Oroshen Beauty Pageant, Igogo Festival Market and the Ogwa Lopo Ceremony.

He therefore called on tourists all over the world to come to Owo to have a taste of the largest and oldest cultural festival in the history of Sub-Sahara Africa while assuring them of their safety and security.

Oba Ogunoye equally used the occasion to thank God for the safe return of the state governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, from his medical vacation and prayed that God will continue to be with him as he resumes.

Earlier in her welcome address, the secretary of Owo Cultural Heritage Organisation (OwoCHO) who is also the chairman of OwoCHO management committee, Dr Yemi Mahmud disclosed that the Owo Cultural Heritage Organisation, an initiative of the Olowo, was birthed in 2021 with Kabiyesi himself as the Chairman, Board of Trustee.

According to her, the ultimate goal of the organisation is to showcase the cultural heritage of Owo Kingdom, which include the Igogo Festival, Owo drums and dances, Owo music, Owo cuisine, Owo clothes among others to the world.

She stated that the mandate of the organization is to identify these diverse activities, evaluate them and improve on them to meet the 21st Century standard that will make them attractive to relevant stakeholders in and outside Owo Kingdom and beyond the shores of Nigeria.

Speaking at the occasion, the Cultural Consultant to the organisation, Prince Rotimi Awelewa, disclosed that the festival is being packaged to a greater height, saying that some members of the corporate world and high worth individuals have been dragged in to sponsor the festival as their impact will be felt as from the 2024 edition.

Highlight of the ceremony was the unveiling of the Oroshen Beauty Pageant Logo by the wife of the Olowo, Olori Olanike Ogunoye and that of the Igogo Festival Market by the Olowo.

The event which attracted the who is who in Owo, chiefs and the people of the town had the Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Owena Press Limited, Sir Ademola Adetula, MFR, who doubles as the Chairman of the Media Committee of OwoCHO in attendance.