Oyo State Government has pledged its full support for the annual celebration of the Iyemoja Festival in Ibadan, saying it will ensure it attracts the attention of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatunbosun, gave the assurance during the celebration of this year’s Iyemoja Festival at the River Bank of Popoyemoja in Ibadan.
In a statement by the Commissioner, Ministry of Information & Civic Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, on Tuesday, October 31, Olatunbosun explained that the government threw its weight behind the festival in order to promote and preserve the cultural heritage, as well as remember the forebears in the state.
The Commissioner promised that to make the approval of UNESCO a reality, the next Yemoja Festival would be well packaged to attract a mammoth crowd to grace the occasion.
Olatunbosun added that this singular act would attract sponsorship of the festival from different brands.
Also in their goodwill messages, the Chairperson, House Committee on Culture and Tourism, Hon. Mrs. Michael Olubisi Margaret and Hon. Mrs. Olajide Olufunke praised the state governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, for fulfilling his promise to approve and support Isese day.
They said that it is a way to promote Oyo State’s rich cultural values, which in turn might be a money spinner for the state.
Earlier in her opening speech, the Yeyelorisa of the Festival, Omitonade Ifawemimo Egbelade said that the festival is an avenue for every son and daughter of yemoja, both at home and in the diaspora, to converge and celebrate their past heroes and also plan on ways to move the belief forward.
The highpoint of the festival was the appeasement to Iyemoja deity by Baale Iyemoja, Omikunmi Egbelade, who took the propitiation and dived into the river, a symbolic representation of the sacrificial rites.
Prayers were offered for the government and the people of the state.
Other highlights were cultural displays by different masquerades such as Ayelabola, Danafojura, the Olorisa Yemoja, Gelede and a host of others.
