Kogi State Government has assured of its tremendous and continuous support to the annual Ogori Ovie Osese festival just as the Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation,NTDC has also promised to list the event as a National Festival.
The Kogi State Governor,Capt Idris Wada gave the assurance to support the festival in Ogori,Ogori Magongo LGA at the weekend,noting that the festival has the propensity to promote moral chastity,a value he admitted is fast fading away as a result of civilisation.The Governor who was represented by his Deputy,Yomi Awoniyi, said the annual festival has made the Ogori Community a reference for high moral standard anchored on indigenous cultural values among spinsters in particular and the Ogori community in general.
The Governor commended the positive disposition of the Federal Government in its efforts at making the festival a national event.Capt Wada described the conferment of a Chieftaincy title of the Egbeweda and Egbewuya of Ogori Kingdom on Dr Mike Omeri the Director General of National Orientation Agency and his wife by the Ogori Traditional Council as well deserved.Capt Wada described the landmark changes he introduced since his assumption as DG of NOA as laudable.
In his speech,Dr Mike Omeri,who was Chairman of the occasion called on Nigerians to encourage National integration. He commended Ogori People for still keeping the culture of Ovia Osese. The Director General advised Nigerians to always do what is right with their culture as a way of attracting friends and investors to their communities.
The DG called for an attitudinal adjustment programme by Nigerians that will enable the handing over of right values to future generation. Omeri described his organisation’s value orientation campaign as one built on doing the right thing geared towards transforming the nation.
In their goodwill messages, Edem Duke, Minister for Culture and Tourism and Otunba Runsewe,Director General NTDC,said their organisation is making efforts to list the Ovia Osese festival as a National event in view of its relevance in sustaining chastity and promoting Tourism.
While speaking at the occasion,Prof. Olugbemiro Jegede,Secretary to Kogi State Government and Chief Host of the occasion said the Ovia Osese festival has become a live wire of the culture of the Ogori people,called on government at all levels to put machinery in place that would make the yearly event a National festival. The SSG described the Ovia Osese festival as significant, reason why the people are guiding their culture.
In his speech,Samuel Sidiku,National President Ogori Descendant Union,appealed for the national recognition of the festival,adding that it instils moral self discipline, responsibility to preserve, protect chastity and purity among the female population.
Highlights of the 2013 Ovia Osese was dance parade by various chapters of ODU across the country,beauty competition and the initiation of maidens into womanhood.
