By Abdullahi Tukur Birnin Kebbi.
The Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival which is slated to start on the 11th of February 2026 is receiving the endorsement of critical stakeholders across the country and beyond.
A meeting between a high powered committee of the Central Planning Committee of the Festival headed by the former Deputy Governor of Kebbi state Dr. Suleiman Mohammed Argungu held on Tuesday with a team of the National Automotive Design and Development Council NADDC in Abuja.
The Director General of NADDC Otumba Oluwemimo Joseph Osamopin received the team to discuss partnership and collaboration in areas of common interest.
Speaking during the visit, Dr Suleiman relayed the greetings of Governor Nasir idris to the Council and gave an account of how the festival began in 1934 concluding that the festival has become an internationally organized event.He told the Director General that due to its significance, the Festival was registered by UNESCO in 2016 as the Intangible Festival for Humanity.
He called for cooperation between the NADDC and the organizers of the event in order to promote common interest, and for the promotion of national cohesion and development.He mentioned motor rally as one area where the NADDC can leverage on to contribute its quota in the overall success of the Festival.Responding
The Director General, Otumba Joseph, backed by his management team welcomed the offer of collaboration and hammered on the need for the country to take advantage of such events to promote and facilitate unity for national development.
He emphasized that cooperation and collaboration has become indispensable and very critical in view of the need to make the country better for all.He pledged the readiness of the Council to assist in whatever way necessary to ensure hitch free Festival.
Other members of Dr Suleiman’s delegation are the Director General of the Main Planning Committee Alhaji Safiyanu Garba Bena, the Commissioner of Information and Culture Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed BK; the Commissioner of Commerce and Tourism, Alhaji Usman Abubakar Ladan; Ambassador Usman Baraya; Group Captain Hamidu Usman Rtd; Alhaji Nasir Ali; the Special Adviser to the Deputy Governor on Media and Publicity Alhaji Ibrahim Argungu and the Secretary to the Main Committee Alhaji Nasir Hassan.
