The Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation has elevated the status of the Borgu festival in Niger State to national prominence.
According to the Director-General of NTDC, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, the festival will now be included among the over 160 festivals across Nigeria currently enjoying the support and promotion of the corporation.
Otunba Runswe made this pronouncement while receiving a delegation from Borgu kingdom led by, Alhaji Mohammed Baba Abdullahi, the Galadima of Borgu kingdom at the tourism village in Abuja.
Speaking during the meeting, the Galadima said the kingdom which is an emirate in Niger State is blessed with a lot of tourism potentials and expressed his desire to work with Otunba Runsewe in a bid to harnessing the various tourism potentialities of the kingdom.
Speaking further, the monarch revealed that he had been following the progress of Otunba Runsewe observing that he was impressed with his performance thus far.
Having met with his council, he extended an invitation to Runsewe to attend next year’s 45 th anniversary of the kingdom which is scheduled for April and will feature among other things, a Durba festival.
Also at the meeting, the Conservator of Kanji national park Mr. Mike Nwaede noted that they were trying to expand the scope of recreational centres like the park by providing other support facilities and services that will engage people beyond the basic utility of the park.
Responding, Otunba Runsewe observed that Borgu emirate is one of the most peaceful at the moment and encouraged the leadership to sustain the atmosphere of tranquility stressing that it was necessary for tourism development in the area.
The NTDC boss added that Borgu is renowned for several historical events some of which predate Nigeria’s independence while promising to attend the anniversary slated for next year.
He assured of the corporations support with the provision of several promotional materials and an introduction of life jackets to ensure casualty-free boat ride by tourists and visitors during the event.