TOURISM DEVELOPMENT: LAGOS GOVT SUPPORTS ANNUAL EBI FESTIVAL CELEBRATION IN EPE
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As part of promoting indigenous festivals, culture and tradition for the development of Lagos tourism, arts and culture, the Lagos State Government has supported the celebration of the Ebi Festival in the Epe area of the State.
The Special Adviser on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Idris Aregbe, ably represented at the event by the Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture, Mr. Idowu Johnson, who led some officials to witness the celebration recently, said that the involvement of the Ministry was in furtherance of preserving the culture and heritage of the people of Epe and its environs.
He expressed the willingness of the State Government to continue to support the Ebi festival because of its viability to sustain the peace already being enjoyed by the people of Epe and also advance the progress of the ancient town.
He stated that the intention of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture is to be more involved in the annual celebration to bring the festival up to international standards and use it as a means of attracting more foreign tourists to the State.
The Oloja of Epe Kingdom, Oba Kamorudeen Animashaun, during an interview on the importance and benefits of the Ebi festival, commended the involvement of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture in the programme. He appreciated the support of the State Government in ensuring the successful hosting of the festival in the past few years, saying that the Government’s involvement served as a source of encouragement for the organisers of the annual festival.
The Monarch affirmed the recognition that the festival had received both within and outside the country on promoting harmony, unity and peace within Epe environs as well as progress and prosperity for the indigenous people of Epe home and in the Diaspora. He, however, pleaded for more government support towards the revival of other customs, culture and heritage of their forefathers in the Epe Kingdom and festivals of the people of Epe in general.
The Oloja stressed that the government must intervene in salvaging the various cultural norms and practices from going into extinction and the festival does not discriminate or segregate the sexes, stressing that both have specific roles to play during the festival. He described the event as a friendly cultural festival that everyone can come to the Epe kingdom to celebrate with the people.
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