Kebbi State Governor Alhaji Abubakar Bagudu is targeting over 15,000 jobs from rebranded Argungu Fishing and Cultural Festival holding next year.
Bagudu a keen follower of global cultural tourism said that Kebbi’s most famous fishing festival with a huge international offering could swing travel visits to Nigeria. He noted that this would consequently create jobs that will drop unemployment rate in the state and cause rapid urbanisation of Kebbi’s rural areas.
The governor, who is determined to build the economic profile of the agrarian state through structured cultural and tourism resources, has uplifted the buoyant economy of Kebbi through massive rice cultivation and export.
Bagudu has promised to bring back the Argungu motor rally, which predates the famous Paris Dakar Rally to build reliable bridges for Kebbi’s technological development and as a strategic support base offering to revive the automotive industry.
Consequently, Kebbi government has commenced discussion with renowned General Motors Creative Designer and Director-General, National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), JelaniAliyu on how to revive the Argungu Motor Rally ahead of the expected come back of AIF and CF next year.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor and Coordinator Argungu Fishing Festival Alhaji Nura Kangiwa noted that Bagudu was determined to work with tourism stakeholders to harness the expected one billion tourists projected to visit notable global tourism destinations at end of this year, an opportunity to which Kebbi is prepared to benefit from and oxygenate rural economic and social development.
“The Argungu Festival would provide opportunity for women in the informal sector which is often home-based and enables women who takes care of children and the elderly relatives to generate income. The youths with less education will also be captured and that is why we are keen to keep our eyes on the progressive upswing of international tourist movement, a momentum that may peak at the time, Argungu festival takes next year,” Kangiwa added.
Meanwhile, plans have been concluded by government to use the polo and international cultural events holding in July to water the expectations of partners are sponsors of Argungu Fishing and Cultural Festival.
The event is expected to feature traditional wrestling championship between Nigeria and Niger, with side offerings in Sharo, Tauri, Camel racing and HawanQaho (full fighting).