The second Made in North Festival and Trade Fair is set to hold this year, with organisers promising a bigger platform for culture, creativity, and commerce in northern Nigeria.
The festival, which debuted last year, was conceived as a forum to showcase the North’s rich heritage while creating opportunities for trade, partnerships, and youth empowerment.
Organisers said this year’s edition will build on lessons from the maiden outing by strengthening logistics, expanding participation, and deepening community involvement.
Convener, Muhammad Adam (MC Ashraf) said the initiative was born out of a desire to highlight our identity and potential.
“We wanted to create a platform that celebrates our culture and creativity, while also easing some of the burden through opportunities for trade, partnerships, and empowerment,” he said.
According to him, the second edition will position the North as a future centre for fashion, film, art, tourism, and technology.
More than a thousand creatives, brands, and groups will perform, exhibit, and network.
Activities will include cultural parades, traditional Durbar, fashion showcases, film screenings, spoken word and poetry performances, photography exhibitions, and trade fairs.
A headline musical act is being kept under wraps, while organisers hinted at a major talent-scouting initiative to discover new voices from the region.
The festival has received endorsements from top government officials including the Vice President, the Deputy Senate President, and the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Economy. Cultural institutions such as the National Gallery of Art, corporate sponsors, NGOs, and international collaborators are also backing the event.
Organisers noted that opportunities remain open for sponsorships, vendor exhibitions, and CSR-driven brand activations.
Beyond entertainment, the festival is expected to generate significant economic value by attracting investment and boosting the creative economy in Northern Nigeria.
Organisers believe it could also serve as a bridge connecting the region’s market to the rest of the country and the world.
“This is more than a festival, it is a mission, a vehicle for change that can transform Northern Nigeria and contribute to national growth,” Ashraf said.
By 2030, the organisers project that Made in the North will grow into a global cultural brand, touring major cities in Nigeria and abroad, while exporting Northern talent and attracting international investors.
“With over 100 million people in the North, we are a continent within a country. This festival is about harnessing that potential and projecting it globally,” the convener added.
The organisers of the much-anticipated 2025 Igbo Day, New Yam Festival, and 13th Ndigbo Diaspora Economic Development Conference and Awards Dinner in Ghana have announced the postponement of this year’s event, originally scheduled for September 21 at Efua Sutherland Park, Accra.
The announcement was made through an official statement released by the Igbo Day / Yam Festival Committee, led by Chief Elder Bright Chiawalam, who serves as the committee chairman.
According to the statement, the decision to postpone the high-profile cultural event was reached after “careful deliberation and consultation, ”with the aim of ensuring that the festival and award dinner night is held in an environment that truly reflects the excellence, dignity, and unity of the Igbo people.
“This decision was not made lightly,” the statement read. “We understand the deep cultural and emotional significance of this annual celebration to Ndi Igbo and our friends across Ghana and beyond.”
The Igbo New Yam Festival, also known as Iri Ji or Iriji Ohuru, is a time-honoured tradition celebrated across Igbo communities to mark the beginning of the harvest season.
In Ghana, the festival draws thousands of attendees, including members of the Igbo diaspora, local chiefs, dignitaries, and cultural enthusiasts.
Organisers have promised that a new date for the event will be communicated in due course. In the meantime, they are calling for patience and continued support from the public as preparations continue behind the scenes.
“We are committed to delivering a bigger, better, and even more impactful celebration of Igbo heritage,” the committee assured.
As the Igbo community and cultural enthusiasts await the rescheduled date, the postponement has been met with a mix of understanding and anticipation, with many expressing hopes for an even more memorable event once it returns.
The statement also informs the general public that the 13th and Igbo Diaspora Economic Development Conference lecture, Annual awards/Dinner Night, with the topic,
The Impact of Diaspora Ndigbo in the Nigerian economic Growth to be delivered by Hon Osita Chidoka OFR NPOM, former Minister of Aviation and Aerospace development of Nigeria, and Senator Anyim Pius Anyim GCON, former Secretary General of the Federation (SGF), has equally been postponed as a new date will also be announced in due time, the statement states.
The Ekinrin-Adde Community Development Association (EADA) has unveiled plans to raise a self-help-driven Infrastructural Development Fund worth N600 million, aimed at supporting various community-led projects.
This was disclosed in Abuja on Monday by veteran journalist and public affairs analyst, Prince Babajide Kolade Otitoju, during a world press briefing heralding the 32nd edition of the annual festival.
Prince Otitoju said the initiative is part of the community’s longstanding tradition of self-reliance and social development, positioning Ekinrin-Adde as a pace-setter not just in Ijumu Local Government Area, but across Kogi State and the broader Okun-Yoruba axis.
He said the funds would be directed toward completing ongoing and new infrastructure projects.
He likened the festival to cultural celebrations such as the Ojude Oba in Ijebu Ode and Lisabi Day in Abeokuta, describing it as a cultural and development renaissance that has increasingly gained national significance.
He described Ekinrin-Adde as a remarkably modern Okun-Yoruba community in Kogi State’s Western Senatorial District, celebrated for its rich human capital, natural resources, and a legacy of producing distinguished Nigerians across the judiciary, military, civil service, sports, academia, religion, and politics.
Among them, according to him, are Justice John Afolabi, the first Kogi indigene to sit on the bench of the Supreme Court; Gen. Oshanupin (rtd), former GOC of the 3rd Armoured Division; Navy Commander LMO Fabiyi; Col. Tunde Fagbemi (rtd); Mr. Felix Ikumapayi of the DSS; Olympic Gold Medalist Abiodun Obafemi; Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi, Vice Chancellor of Federal University Lokoja; and Bishop Funke Adejumo of Agape Ministries. Others include Hon. James Faleke, Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, and retired Justice Alaba Ajileye, among several others.
He said, “Our culture is the heartbeat of our community, the thread that weaves us together as one people.
“This celebration is our way of proudly showcasing who we are, what we stand for, and the rich traditions that define us. It’s more than a festival, it’s a reaffirmation of our shared identity and the unity that we hold so dear.
“That deep sense of togetherness has always been our greatest strength. It’s what has propelled us to achieve remarkable milestones, setting the pace not just in Okun land, but across Kogi State and beyond”.
Otitoju emphasised that the infrastructural fund reflects the community’s enduring legacy of self-help, noting that Ekinrin-Adde recognised early on that government alone could not shoulder development, hence its long history of trailblazing achievements.
He said it was the first community in Ijumu LGA to establish a secondary school, a maternity center, a postal agency, and later two secondary schools, adding that the community also pioneered banking in the area with the creation of IBWA Bank in 1985 (Afribank) and its own Ekinrin-Adde Community Bank in 1992.
This year’s festival, he said, will not only feature the launch of the N600 million development fund but also recognise illustrious sons and daughters, as well as friends of the community from across Nigeria.
He said the funds would be directed toward completing ongoing and new infrastructure projects, including the establishment of a new Computer-Based Test (CBT) center.
The CBT centre, he explained, is a critical intervention aimed at eliminating the hardship faced by students who currently travel long distances outside the community to sit for computer-based examinations.
“We are giving the celebration a national outlook and working towards positioning it as a global tourist destination,” he added.
He further noted that the 2025 edition will introduce several new elements designed to deepen cultural pride and youth engagement.
These include an essay competition, traditional marriage protocol showcases, displays of cultural attire, food exhibitions, clan eulogy renaissance, and competitive events with attractive cash prizes.
The Ekinrin-Adde Day Festival, Otitoju added, is not just a celebration of heritage but also a strategic tool for development, unity, and intergenerational bonding.
He expressed confidence that the community’s determination, coupled with the support of well-meaning Nigerians, will make the 2025 edition a landmark event in its history.
The Association also announced that an unprecedented number of guests and visitors are expected to grace this year’s celebration.
According to him, Hon. James Faleke, the member representing Ikeja Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and a proud son of Ekinrin-Adde, is expected to be on the ground to receive dignitaries and guests from far and wide.
Dismissing suggestions that the lawmaker may have forgotten his roots by representing a constituency outside his hometown, Kolade-Otitoju noted that Hon. Faleke has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the development of Ekinrin-Adde, proving that true patriotism transcends geographic boundaries.
“We’re deeply proud of Hon. Faleke, he’s a shining example of what Ekinrin-Adde can offer this country. His impact goes far beyond Lagos, his contributions at the national level, especially with the recent Tax Bills, show the weight of responsibility he carries with grace and brilliance.
“What makes us even prouder is that, despite his national duties, he has never forgotten home. We can point to several transformative projects in our community that bear his touch, proof that his heart remains with us,” he said.
The President of the Association, Deinde Komolafe, further emphasized that the community aims to use the festival as a platform to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) into its rich mineral and cultural assets, leveraging the networks of its accomplished sons and daughters in the diaspora, many of whom are expected to attend the event alongside their friends and business associates.
“We’re genuinely excited about this because we know the ripple effect of foreign investment could be transformative, not just for our community, but for the neighbouring towns as well.
“It’s a chance to breathe new life into our local economy and create opportunities that will uplift us all,” he added.
Prof. Solomon Ibileye, the Chief Assessor of the Essay Competition noted that the array of activities planned for the Festival is designed not only to strengthen community unity but also to deepen the younger generation’s understanding of their heritage.
He revealed that the essay competition for students in secondary and tertiary institutions, both at home and abroad, is a key initiative to encourage young people to explore and express their knowledge of their ancestral roots.
On his part, Emmanuel Ogungbuyi, the National Publicity Secretary of the group said the event would also be leveraged on the maiden Economic Summit.
“The chance for the breath of a new life into the local economy by the event is a priority we are passionate about,” Ogungbuyi said.
The 8th edition of the Asa Day Festival brought Yoruba culture to the forefront with a resounding call to preserve and promote its rich heritage. The event, themed Raising the Bar of Lagos Indigenous Cultural Heritage, was a celebration that transcended entertainment to a clarion call for cultural preservation and economic transformation.
Held at the Blue Roof in Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos the festival featured His Royal Majesty, Oba Joel Olaniyi Oyatoye, the Oloro of Oro Kingdom, as its keynote speaker. Oba Oyatoye emphasized the economic potential embedded in Nigeria’s cultural assets. “I believe in the future through culture. We must embrace our heritage, which is slowly being eroded by modernity. Despite Western influences, there is growing global appreciation for our traditions. It is time to harness this cultural power for economic growth,” he said.
The Asa Day Festival, held in collaboration with Asa Day Worldwide International, Canada and the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Art and Culture, aimed at highlighting Yoruba culture as a unifying force and a potential driver of development. This year’s edition marked the second time Lagos hosted the event, underscoring the city’s role as a melting pot of cultures and the importance of celebrating its indigenous roots.
The festival offered an immersive cultural experience, featuring music, dance, art, and traditional performances that showcased the vibrancy of Yoruba heritage. Guests traveled from across Nigeria and China to witness the celebration, reaffirming the universal appeal of Yoruba culture.
Oba Oyatoye’s advocacy was echoed by Fuji maestro Dr. Saheed Osupa who described the festival as a vital initiative to preserve culture for future generations. “Culture is a treasure. We must do everything to keep it alive,” he remarked.
Veteran Yoruba Nollywood actor Saidi Balogun stressed the role of families in sustaining cultural traditions. “Charity begins at home. “Let’s teach our children who we are and where we come from. If we don’t, our culture may disappear,” he said.
Lanre Hassan, popularly known as Iya Awero, added her voice to the call for cultural preservation. “Our culture defines who we are. It is our duty to protect and pass it on to the next generation. We must all be part of this movement,” she said.
The festival was more than a celebration; it was a platform to advocate for economic potential of cultural heritage. By showcasing the value of Yoruba traditions, Asa Day highlighted culture as a tool for tourism and national development. The Lagos State Government’s support in hosting the event was acknowledged with promises of a more elaborate edition next year. Plans include a comprehensive cultural exhibition to underscore the importance of heritage in contemporary society.
Oba Oyatoye called on the Nigerian government at all levels to invest in cultural preservation as a means to bolster the economy. He believes the revival of Yoruba culture can foster national pride, attract global interest, and create economic opportunities.
The success of this year’s Asa Day Festival demonstrated the growing recognition of culture as a valuable asset. As the event drew to a close, the message was clear: Yoruba culture is not merely a link to the past but a beacon for the future.
The organiser of Badagry International Film Cultural and Sports Festival, Mr Viyon Awhanse, yesterday hailed Lagos State Government, Deputy Mayor of Port Novo, Benin Republic and the public for successfully hosting the festival.
The event, which started on November 13, featured activities which included beach marathon, stage play and cultural displays from communities in Badagry. It ended on November 16.
Personalities from Lagos State and Benin Republic attended the festival.
They included Mrs Adebukola Agbaminoja, executive secretary, Lagos State Films and Video Censors Board, who represented Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Governor of Port Novo, Chalemagne Yankoty, Mr Tokourou Rachadou, First Deputy Mayor of Port Novo, among others.
Executive Director of QDance Centre and Founder of Afropolis, Qudus Onikeku, said the death of Black Heritage Festival and others spurred him to initiate this.
Onikeku, who spoke in Lagos, said the festival is a collaboration between QDance and Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.
He said artistes and tourists from South Africa, Togo, Benin, France, United States, Ghana, Netherlands, Morocco, Ethiopia, Colombia and Brazil are expected.
“We are closing J. Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History road from tomorrow to create a big arena.
Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Toke Benson-Awoyinka, said the choice of J. Randle was deliberate.
She said the centre has not been in full use since 2023 because the state is doing due diligence before opening it fully to the public.
By Oluwashindara Oso, Samiat Oyedeji, Elizabeth Adeoye
The Indigenous Arts Festival (IAF) is set to begin in Delta state capital, Asaba. Asaba will come alive with vibrant cultural activities as the first edition of the four-day festival begins from Thursday September 26 to 29.
The festival will feature vibrant cultural displays, workshops, and performances that highlight indigenous traditions and sustainability.
The cultural carnival is themed: “Ecosystem Sustainability Through Indigenous knowledge and Practices”. The event promises a thrilling experience of the magic of traditional knowledge through immersive cultural encounters amid nature’s tranquility, according to the festival director, Uba Chukwuemeke Washington.
He said; “The purpose for the Indigenous Arts Festival is to create awareness and revive our cultural heritage through different indigenous art styles and techniques including, visual arts, dance, drama, music, poetry etc. Through this event, those who have Indigenous knowledge in different fields of art will share their experiences/expertise with the younger generation. The event is a veritable platform for networking with like minds. Attendees and cultural enthusiasts will experience the rhythm of traditional music, enjoy arts in various forms. It will also offer them the opportunity join the lively riel dancing, partake in moving ceremonies and relive childhood memories of gathering ’round the fireplace for storytelling that will transport you through time.”
Artist/performance poet Evelyn Osagie is taking her poetic and fabric art campaigns for environmental sustainability to the state. Known on stage as Evelyn D’POET, Osagie is the festival’s guest poet.
She will also lead a Textile Workshop on tie-and-dye techniques, promoting slow, sustainable fashion. She would be showcasing various design practices and her fabric artworks, driven by the idea of sustainable lifestyle. The attendees will engage with the style, and immerse themselves in practical activities where they will create their own version of ‘sustainability’fabrics.
Widely celebrated actor, Soibofae Dokubo, will be anchoring a session on storytelling. He’ll be taking guests into the imaginative world of African storytelling under the moonlight.
Also, as part of its environmental sustainability campaign, the Woman Editor, Sun Newspaper/ Co-founder, One Million Tree Initiative, Josfyn Uba will also lead the Green Workshop. The Green Workshop which is in partnership with One Million Tree Initiative is devoted to students in Primary and Secondary schools will engage young students on environmental issues such as climate action, encouraging them to think sustainability.
The ICC Youth Creative Club, partnering with Afro-art studio, will also offer an art and crafts workshop to nurture creativity among the youths
A journalist was among the lucky winners at the weekend Chinese mooncake festival held in Abuja.
Michael Olugbode of ThisDay won a million Naira dining voucher.
Olugbode also won two bottles of exotic spirit in another draw for those with WeChat.
The Mooncake Festival, one of the popular Chinese Festivals was organised in Nigeria to promote and strengthen the people-to-people relationship between China and Nigeria.
The event which was held at the weekend in Abuja at the magnificent Chinese Silk Road Restaurant located in the Central Business District, Abuja, was organised by the China General Chamber of Commerce in Nigeria in collaboration with the China Cultural Centre and the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria.
The prizes won include electronic devices, TV boxes, dining vouchers, and health products among others to Nigerians and Chinese who were guests at the occasion.
The ThisDay correspondent seat number 59 was picked for the ultimate prize of the N1 million dining voucher as the last raffle for the seat after other prizes had been picked.
He was later picked again for another raffle registered with WeChat which saw him going home with two exotic bottles of spirit.
Speaking on the prizes, Michael Olugbode told journalists at the event that it could only be divinely arranged as he was already contemplating leaving for home after almost all the prizes had been won and the event was so dragged.
He said: “Something just kept urging me to wait till the very end especially as I had some colleagues that I needed to pick in my vehicle.
“It was great winning the voucher and I must thank the Chinese Embassy, Cultural Centre, China General Chamber of Commerce in Nigeria, and the Silk Road Restaurant for the two prizes. In fact, they have by this made me an ambassador of Chinese Culture and the Mooncake Festival.”
The Mooncake Festival, one of the popular Chinese Festivals was organised in Nigeria to promote and strengthen people to people-to-people relationship between China and Nigeria.
Speaking to journalists on a sideline of the event, the Cultural Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, Li Xuda, said the festival was one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture for the past 3,000 years.
He added that the festival represents the harvest season and the idea that hard work leads to a fruitful result.
He said: “Today’s celebration is very important and meaningful because the Mid-autumn, also called ‘the Mooncake Day’, is one of the most important Chinese traditional festivals.
“In this festival, we celebrate family reunion, friendship, and togetherness; like the popular proverb in Nigeria, united we stand and divided we fall.
“To stand hand-by-hand, shoulder-to-shoulder, we will create a better future that belongs to our people and benefits our two countries.”
He added: “In the future China, and Nigeria, will work together to promote our tangible and intangible cultural heritage and further strengthen our cultural exchange and cooperation.”
Li also noted that the festival was often celebrated annually on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, usually in September or October, when the moon is very full and the size is bigger.
The mooncake festival or the Mid-Autumn Festival became an official celebration in China during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE) but there isn’t one single answer to the question of when and how the annual event began.
Many believe the fete was first mentioned in the “Book of Rites,” a Confucius classic on bureaucracy and rituals written more than 2,400 years ago.
It was described as a day for emperors to celebrate the year’s harvest by giving offerings to the moon and hosting a great feast.
Today, the Mid-Autumn Festival is an incredibly important family gathering – it’s when “people and the moon reunite to form a full circle,” as an old saying goes.
Like many cultural celebrations, the Mid-Autumn Festival is shrouded in myth. One of the most beloved – and tragic – pieces of folklore tells the story of how a woman named Chang’e became the moon goddess.
According to the legend, after mythological Chinese archer Hou Yi courageously shot down nine surplus suns – leaving only one, in effect protecting the world from being scorched completely – he was given an elixir from heaven as a reward.
Hou Yi’s wife Chang’e drank the elixir while protecting it from a greedy apprentice, but became so light that she floated to the moon.
Missing his wife, Hou Yi prepared a feast every year on the day when the moon was at its fullest, hoping to get a glimpse of his wife’s shadow.
The Akwa Ibom State capital, Uyo, came alive with culture and literary activities when Boldoz Book and Arts Festival made its debut last month. With the theme, “Mbuk Nyin, Our Story”, the event celebrated the diverse ethnicities that make up Akwa Ibom; while providing a perfect setting for homegrown stories to be told. With chairs arranged in a semicircle, picture listeners at a storyteller’s feet, the orange panels graced with photographs of rulers in the region from colonial times to present added more vibrancy to event.
The festival, which had as Director, Mrs Enobong Etuk, featured panel discussions, book chats, and performances. The event was held at the Ibibio Union Museum situated in Unity Park, Udo Udoma Avenue in Uyo.
The festival was headlined by authors, such as 2023 NLNG Prize for Literature winner, Obari Gomba and acclaimed author of “Mechanics of Yenagoa, Don’t Die”, Michael Afenfia.
Akwa Ibom’s Commissioner of Culture Charles Udoh, who gave the opening remark, reiterated the state government’s commitment to supporting the arts.
The convener of the Uyo Book Club, Dr. Udeme Nana, moderated a book chat with author, Anietie Usen. This was the first of many book chats that featured books, such as “What Happened to Janet Uzor?” by Miracle Emeka Nkwor; “Civil War Child” by Nestor Udoh; “Grit” by Gomba, and “Leave My Bones” in Saskatoon by Afenfia. In the lineup for panel discussions were Prof. Effiong Johnson, Dr. Eyoh Etim, and Elizabeth Michael.
Afenfia stressed the need to change the narrative for what success should look like.
Gomba led a masterclass in writing for theatre. He compared laying out a narrative to gathering ingredients for one’s favorite soup. His play, “Grit”, won the coveted $100,000 NLNG Prize for Literature and everyone wanted to know how he did it.
The panel discussion on “Children Books Gaps & Opportunity” was a real eye-opener. Moderated by Mrs. Olubunmi Aboderin-Talabi, she revealed that the children’s book industry was worth billions of dollars and in need of more writers and illustrators for the genre. Francis Onuk, a trained illustrator, buttressed this point when he said “a page of illustration can cost N30,000 to N50,000 depending on the level of detail”.
Dr. Eno Attah, author of “Super Healthy Kidz”, hygiene book shared that her children’s book inspiration was drawn from books she read in her childhood and those of her children as a parent. As a few attentive students in the audience were awarded books both for their personal and school collection, it became apparent that they too were on the right track to becoming reading and writing influencers.
The influence of Akwa Ibom when it comes to food and fashion has been deeply etched. Thus, the panels, “Come and Eat in Uyo” and “Our Clothing and Culture” provided learning opportunities for all. Delicacies, such as Edikang Ikong, Ekpang Nkukwo, Afia Afere, Abak Atama, and Afang were discussed at length. Itoro Etim took everyone on a journey of clothing from the first man and woman to the future of school children in the state tying wrappers to school, even for the males, as they showcase their culture and origin. She also shared that the Victorian styled Onyonyo was indeed a twist adorned with culture to the Victorian ball gowns introduced to the region.
The first edition of the BOLDOZ Book and Arts Festival, a rich and engaging books, visual arts and culture festival is scheduled to be held at the Ibibio Union Museum in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, from Friday, 21st of June to Saturday 22nd of June, 2024. The festival is organized by the BOLDOZ Book club.
According to a statement by the curator and festival organizer, Mrs. Enobong Etuk, the event is set to host international and homegrown authors and artists including Michael Afenfia, Obari Gomba, Miracle Emeka-Nkwor, Nestor Udoh, Anietie Usen, Emem Bassey, Otobong Uwah, Olubunmi Aboderin Talabi, Umar Abubakar Sidi, John Obot, Eno Attah, Elisabeth Michael, Imo Udosen, John Amanam, and Unyime Ivy King.
This edition has the theme, Mbuk Nnyin – Our Story. Visitors and Participants will enjoy a display of and be engaged with the buoyant visual arts, food, film, performance, arts and culture showcased as we tell our stories together.
Over the years, The Boldoz Book Club has hosted several artists, authors, and entrepreneurs including Victor Ekpuk, Betty Irabor, Ibukun Awosika, Lanre Olusola, Nimi Akinkugbe, Arese Ugwu, Gbolahan Fagbure, Audrey Ezigbo, Bola Adefila, and Tomi Balogun. The festival director said, ‘The BOLDOZ Festival stemmed from years of hosting our monthly book club, culture and cultural development projects in Akwa Ibom.
‘We reached a point where we decided to curate a robust engagement of Nigerian authors, visual artists, performance and culture developers from all spheres of Nigeria and Africa. Our goal is to put Akwa Ibom on the map, not just for tourism but for a rounded and exciting arts and cultural experience each year.’
