By John Bassey, Birnin Kebbi
International limelight and its benefits are on the horizon for the colourful Yauri festival, Kebbi State, Noth-West Nigeria, as
Emir of Yauri, Dr Muhammad Zayyanu Abdullahi, hinted that plans have been concluded to upgrade the annual fiesta in Rigata to international standard.
The festival is a cultural event which showcases the rich culture of Yauri Emirate and the people of Kebbi State.
Its expected elevation to international status will woo foreign tourists to Yauri to boost global ties and rake in revenue for the state,he explained.
Speaking to newsmen in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital, shortly after a marathon meeting with members of the festival’s publicity committee, which is the first phase of meetings ahead of the festival, the monarch’s representative, who also doubles as vice chairman of the committee, Alhaji Abubakar Saidu Yakubu Abarshi, the Ubandoman Yauri, said that the purpose of the meeting was to fine-tune preparations for the festival, slated for February,2025.
According to him, the committee has identified grey areas which failed to give last year’s edition of the festival the glamour, zest and standard to meet global targets.
“We have itemized the problems and we are working to erase them completely to ensure a total and tourist-friendly festival,” he said.
The committee decried the poor publicity given last year’s festival, hence the reason they convened the meeting to seek media assistance and collaboration because, according to him, the press are critical stakeholders in the propagation of positive information on the festival which is set to go international.
