By ALI MUHAMMAD RABIU; Editing by BASIRAT MEMUDU
The Director General, Nigeria Tourism Development Authority, Ola Awakan says the federal government will ensure adequate promotion of Ilorin Emirate durbar to a world class event.
The Director General, stated this while speaking at the Ilorin Emirate 2026 Durbar held in Ilorin, Kwara state.
According to him, the diversity we have in the country is our strength which can be used to move the nation forward.
Awakan said Nigeria can rule the continent of Africa through it rich culture.
The Director General called on Nigerians to come together as a United people irrespective of their ethnic background to make the nation great through their diverse cultural heritage.
In his remarks on the occasion, former Vice Chancellor University of Abuja, Professor AbdulRasheed Na’Allah said Durbar is part of the tradition of Ilorin from time immemorial.
Na’Allah advised the youth to embrace the tradition and leverage on it in order to have a better future.
He urged members of the academia to establish centres that would be saddled with the responsibility of documenting and showcasing the nations good culture to the outsider world.
For his part, a community leader in Ilorin, Emirate, Dr. Ibrahim Gambari said the durbar has economic benefit to the state and the country as a whole.
He advocated for the institutionalisation and transformation of the Durbar to make it a world class cultural event.
In his comment, an academician in Ilorin Emirate, Dr Alabi Salihu said the Ilorin Emirate Durbar showcase unity in diversity.
Salihu maintained that government investment in the cultural show will make it more attractive and better.
Earlier in his address of welcome, the Chairman, Ilorin Emirate Durbar Committee and Danmasanin of Ilorin, Suleiman Alapansanpa thanked the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu -Gambari for sustaining the cultural festival since it’s resuscitation in 2018.
He said Ilorin Emirate has not remained the same since especially in the realm of cultural rejuvenation and economic development.
The chairman also commended the state governor for his generous support to the success of the festival since his assumption of office.
According to him, the construction of a pavilion at the Forecourt of the Emir’s palace by the state government will reduce cost incurred in organising future durbar festival.
Alapansanpa explained that the cultural exhibition introduced to the durbar festival will expose the children to materials that made their Progenitors and progenies different from others.
He noted that the unity in diversity of Ilorin Emirate was also displayed in form of archival materials to Inspire generations unborn.
