BY GANIYU AGBELUSI
A former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Ondo state, Hon. Yemi Olowolabi says the Ketewa Cultural Festival in Idanre Land will not only be sustained but will be reinvigorated to touch lives of the people of the ancient town.
Hon Olowolabi, who innovated the Ketewa Cultural Festival two years ago, gave the assurance while speaking at the post review meeting of ketewa 2021 at his Dorcas Hillscourt residence in Idanre.
He commended members of the planning committee for their zeal, dedication and unalloyed commitment which he noted helped to make the 2021 edition of the fiesta a success story despite some unforseen circumstances.
Hon Olowolabi, who is also a former Commissioner for Information and orientation in Ondo state hinted that Ketewa Cultural Festival would be redesigned to touch various people and groups such as musicians, student groups, artisans and intellectuals with relevant programmes that will be spread over the year with the December gathering as the peak.
The media guru also revealed plans to constitute the Steering Committee of the festival and would be given the mandate to draw up the blue print of its programmes for the year 2022.
Hon Olowolabi said he felt encouraged by the Dean, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, Professor Afolabi Aribigbola who enjoined the people of Idanre Land and government of Ondo State to ensure that Ketewa Cultural Festival is sustained as a tourism support initiative.
Meanwhile, due to the glamour it added to the event, it had been decided that the Ese Ugbeke which is the foot of the Oke Idanre Hilltop Tourism Centre will continue to be the venue of the cultural event.