Communities in Gbarain Kingdom in Bayelsa state have been advised to use the Gbarain Uzu Festival as an avenue to attract tourists thereby transforming the economy of the state.
The Executive Secretary, National Institute Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, gave the advice, while speaking at the 2012 edition of Gbarain Uzu Festival, to mark the formal eating of new yam in the kingdom.
The ÉS said cultural festivals have the potentials of uniting a people and enhancing tourism and that if well organised, the Gbarain Uzu Festival can attract tourists from far and near, thus improving the local economy.
In his remarks, the Mayor of Yenagoa Local Government Council, Hon. Michael Ognolosingha, said coming to Gbarain was home-coming to him, as he had both his primary and secondary school education in Gbarain Kingdom, adding that if there were a university in Gbarain, chances were that he may have attended it.
Hon. Ogbolosingha said that Gbarain is strategic to the economic mainstay of Nigeria and that if the festival is organised very well to attract tourists, then it will fast track the economic development of the area, which is blessed with abundant gas resources.
The Mayor advised the organisers to network and called on the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Deacon Markson Fefeigha, who was also in attendance, to give the festival maximum publicity and bring it to national attention.
The event featured the traditional eating of the new yam by the Ibenanaowei of Gbarain Kingdom, HRM Funpere Akah.
(C) Nico news