By Adémólá Òrunbon
As part of efforts to promote and encourage domestic Tourism, the South West chapter of the Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN) has expressed its support for the 2021 Odun Omo Iganmode Festival.
This was made known by the Chairman of the South West Chapter, Prince Adetunji Fadina at a Press Conference organized by the Chapter in support for the upcoming festival, held at the Regional Office of the body in Ikoyi, Lagos, expressing delight of the association to be part of the annual celebration.
Prince Fadina while congratulating the Olota of Ota, Awori Kingdom, His Majesty, Prof. Adeyemi Obalanlege and the entire people of Ota, expressed his optimism with the annual festival amid growing threats to African cultures owing to civilization, noting that the celebration would ensure the preservation of the culture and traditions of the people.
“We also send our congratulatory message on the upcoming Iganmode festival to the good people of Ota, Ogun State. We are happy to see that there are communities and people that still value their cultures amid threats to African culture owing to civilization. We believe that with this type of initiative, the cultures and traditions of the Awori will be passed on from generation to generation,” he said.
Fadina noted that the Association is at the forefront of advocating for a cultural renaissance of the people and Iganmode was one of such avenues to achieve this, calling on other stakeholders to support the return of Cultural Assets to host communities as one of the cardinal ways of preserving the culture and heritage of the country.
He added that the Association was proud to be a part of the festival and looked forward to meaningful collaboration to ensure a success celebration.
Also speaking, The National President of the Association, Hassan Zakari said that the Odun Omo Iganmode was one assured way to encourage domestic tourism, emphasissing that it would not only drive traffic to Ota and the State but would also showcase and promote economic activities of the people of Ota, stressing that the annual celebration would make meaningful contribution to the social and economic life of the people and State at large.
He said his association would not relent on its oars at drumming support for domestic tourism products such as the just concluded National Festival of Arts held in Ekiti, Ojude-Oba amongst others, stressing that Odun Omo Iganmode is a tourism products that the ATPN was proud to endorse.
Odun Omo Iganmode is annual festival of the Awori people to showcase the rich cultural values and traditions of the land, saying that it started in 1992 by the Iganmode Club presided over by the Late Chief Nasiru Akanbi Deinde, the Seriki Oruba-Ota and the first edition was graced by the Old Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade.
He noted that the 2021 edition is a 7-Day event scheduled to hold on 13th through 18 December, 2021, promising to be a very colourful and flamboyant event.
The week-long activities would be hosted by the Olọ́fin Àpésìn Olóde, and Ọlọ́tà of Ọ̀tà, Àwórì Kingdom, His Majesty, Professor Adéyẹmí Ọbalánlẹ́gẹ́, with a 9-Man team headed by Aare Dele Bankole.
Also in the committee is the son of late Olota Oba Timothy Oloyede Fadina Olagorioye II 1947-1954 a seasoned Tourism stakeholder and Destination and brand consultant, the Chairman of Awori Tourism, Chairman of ATPN South West, Prince Adetunji Femi Fadina who is also Chairman of Culture and Tradition of Iganmode 2021 Committee.