Edo tasks stakeholders on cultural heritage

Determined to preserve and promote the rich cultural heritage of Edo State, the state government has called for the collaboration of all stakeholders.

Speaking during a meeting with stakeholders in Benin City, Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Diaspora Affairs, Mr. Bamidele Obaitan, assured that the government would sustain efforts at preserving the state’s cultural assets and drive growth in the arts, culture and tourism sector.

Obaitan restated the need for all stakeholders, especially those at the grassroots, to be deeply involved in the process of leveraging the state rich cultural heritage to boost the growth of the economy.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Iryn Omorogiuwa, he said that the government was working on developing a festival calendar to capture all local festivals across various communities in the state.

The commissioner directed heads of social and cultural departments in the local government areas to collate the data of all cultural and tourism sites as well as a compendium of all festivals at the grassroots for effective documentation.

Obaitan who emphasised the commitment of the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration to revamp all cultural and tourism sites in the state, further called for the collaboration of the stakeholders during World Dance Day coming up on April 29.

He said that the government was planning to assist self-employed youths with grants through the African Development Bank (AfDB).