Yauri Rigata boat festival aims for international recognition — Emir

The annual Rigata Boat Festival of the Yauri people in Yauri Emirate of Kebbi State, which comes up next month, is set to attain international status as the Emir of Yauri, Alhaji Dr Muhammad Zayyanu Abdullahi, has charged this year’s organisers to work round the clock to ensure this year’s event attains international standards.

Speaking to newsmen in Birnin Kebbi shortly after a stakeholder meeting with members of the publicity committee, which is the first phase of the meeting before the festival, the representative of the Emir, who also doubles as the vice chairman of the committee, Alhaji Abubakar Saidu Yakubu Abarshi Ubandoman Yauri, said that the purpose of the meeting was to fine-tune the preparation of the forthcoming festival next month.

According to him, the publicity committee has identified grey areas which failed to give last year’s festival the publicity it required to meet global standards, pointing out that, “We have itemised the problems, and we are working to erase them completely to ensure total global acceptable standards.”

The committee also decried the poor publicity of last year’s festival, hence the reason they convened the meeting to seek media assistance and collaboration because the press are critical stakeholders in the propagation and promotion of the festival, which would become international in nature.

The Rigata festival is an annual cultural festival which showcases the rich culture of Yauri Emirate and the people of Kebbi State. Upon its elevation to international standard, foreign tourists are expected in Yauri to boost global ties and bring revenue to Kebbi State.

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