OPC Calls For Independent Ministry Of Culture As Olokun Festival Gets Underway

The chief  promoter of  Olokun Festival Foundation, Otunba (Dr) Gani Adams, has called on the Federal Government  to take the ministry of culture away from the office of the Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and make it an independent ministry.

Adams observed that the present arrangement of fusing ministry of information with culture has caused serious retrogression to the sector and that the situation could get worse if not quickly arrested.


“The government should make ministry of culture independent. They should take it away from Alhaji Lai Mohammed because the arrangement is not working. If we are keen on promoting our culture, the government should as a matter urgency make it independent and give it the necessary attention and funding that it deserves.”



The national coordinator  of Odua Peoples Congress disclosed this in Lagos during a press conference to announce the commencement of this year’s  Olokun Festival.


Speaking on the festival, he said: “The Olokun Festival Foundation  has become an important tourist and local attraction and this I  make bold to say ,  may not  be largely unconnected with the agility and efforts  of the organisers of the festival to sustain in our people,  their respect for deities.

It is our collective obligation as a people  to ensure that our culture is sustained and Olokun Foundation , through its annual celebration of Olokun Festival among other activities geared towards the promotion of our culture , has in a way, been breaking down the walls of  challenges posed by the fear of losing our culture to western education and imported faith that tend to undermine the growth and awareness of our people  around our culture."@


The 2017 edition of Olokun festival whuch kicks off with press conference will have quiz competition on thursday, the 4th of october, while the Olokun beauty pageant is slated for the 8th of October.


The 23rd through 25th October will see to beach soccer competition, Ayo Olopon, boat regatta and Oloss gala night which signals the grand finale. These activities however will be spiced with the official unveiling of the foundation's  new cultural ambassadors