Former Minister of Defence, Lt.-Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), has identified culture and tradition as veritable tools for strengthening unity, national cohesion and integration amongst Nigerians.
He stated this in a message to the 2024 Zuru Emirate Uhola Cultural Festival and Agricultural Show held in Zuru Emirate of Kebbi State on Saturday.
Danjuma, who was represented by the President, Middle Belt Forum, Dr Bitrus Bagu, who was also the Chairman 2024 Uhola Festival, declared that he was also a witness to the agricultural show of the festival, where indigenous technology was displayed and unprecedented showcasing of agricultural produce.
The ex-minister said that the event had portrayed the beauty and richness of the cultural values of the country to the outside world with positive impact on the Nigerian Tourism landscape.
He recommended the establishment of an Uhola Festival Development Fund to create sources of funding with approval from the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA).
On his part, the Chairman, Main Organising Committee, Lt.-Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi, thanked Gov. Nasir Idris for providing financial support to stage the event.
He also commended the Emir of Zuru, retired Maj.-Gen. Muhammad Sani-Sami, for being grand custodian of Zuru culture and tradition.
“The concept of Uhola festival has been widened to attract global attention for tourism and economic development,” he said.
Bamaiyi thanked the Federal Government and President Bola Tinubu for including Uhola into the calendar of the National Cultural Events of the NTDA.
The chairman appealed to the federal government to hasten the rehabilitation of Zaima-Zuru road, Kontagora-Zuru road as well as KoKo-Zuru road, saying that all of the roads were in critical state of dilapidation that negatively affected economic activities of the entire emirate.
(NAN)
