Olokun Festival 2017: Aare Gani Adams Make Case for Badagry Development

Federal and Lagos state Government have been urged to speed up action plans on the development of the historical town of Badadgry so as to further expose its tourism potentials to the world and boost income generation through tourism

The Chief Promoter of Olokun Festival Foundation Otunba Gani Adams in his speech at the Grand finale of Olokun Festival Foundation held at Suntan Beach Badagry Lagos also urge the Lagos state government to fix the road leading to the ancient community

“Badadgry is symbolic when we talk of about culture and tourism in this country, the ancient town has its popularity and peculiarity dated back to the pre colonial days”

The town is any tourists delight, it is saddening however that the road that leads to this town from Lagos, the centre of excellence is nothing near excellence, suffice to say that the road is not in any way motorable , Being a border town also, Badagry deserves everything that makes it worth the appendage . To this end, I want to call on Lagos state Government to as a matter of Urgency makes the road from Lagos to Badagry driving friendly’.

He also called on Federal Government to site a Higher Institution of Learning in the town so as to further expose its tourism potentials to the world .

While enjoining Yoruba people to be conscious of the need to promote their cultural heritage and tradition, the newly appointed Aare Ona Kakanfo maintained “that though it be tasking but the reward is greater than the pains ”

According to him ,” “Promoting one’s culture is one service that will not go unnoticed; one of the features that earned me the Aare Ona Kakanfo position according to the appointing palace was my enthusiasm and commitment to the promotion of Yoruba Culture.”

” This implies that whatever we do for the sake of culture is noticed in one way or the other and the reward is bound to come physically or spiritually and that is why I want to implore all of us present here and elsewhere, to, not to only be the custodian of he fantastic Yoruba culture but also be a promoter of the same so that the veiled that has been used to blindfold our cultural eyes by propagators of foreign belief can be removed. Even from the Eyes of our children and the unborn generations that are likely to fall victim of the antics of the promoters of imported cultures to render us culturally impotent. so that we can be perpetually enslaved “.

The event also features official inauguration of six nollywood actors as Olokun Cultural Ambassador, they include, Otunba Bolaji Amusan, popularly known as Mr Latin, Fathia Williams, Lambert Dikeh, Chief Jimoh Aliu, and Chief Mrs Toyin Adegbola who is popularly known as Ajoke Asewo to re Mecca

Otunba Gani Adams said the choice of the actors to joined Yomi Fash Lanso is to continue to represent Olokun by dealing with the public with the same love the water goddess represent , Olokun has a glowing feature, that same quality you will agree with me is evident in all the Ambassadors, they are not only glowing physically, they have a glowing character which automatically draws people, just like people are draws to Olokun out of love, it is my belief that they will mirror Olokun positively

The Director General, Centre for Black African Arts Civilization, Dr Ferdinand Anikwe in his lecture entitled, rethinking cultural, Pan Africanism for Africa’s reconstruction and Development ; said advocating for cultural rejuvenation in Africa should be prioritize in Africa by its people

His Royal Majesty Oba Abdul Wahab Oyedotun, The Orangun of Ila who was the royal father of the day and Over fifty Traditional rulers from Nigeria and Benin Republic including representatives of Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111 , Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Eniitan Ogunwusi, Akran of Badagry De Whenu Aholu Tonyi graced the occasion,

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