The Ohimegye of Igu-Kotonkarfe kingdom, His Royal Majesty (HRM) Alhaji Abdulrazak Sani Isa Koto, has sought for partnership with the Kogi State Ministry of Special Duties on modern ways of preserving fish in the area.
Alhaji Koto spoke during the cultural sensitization on the socio-economic impact of Igu fishing festival in Kotonkarfe Local Government Area of the state on Saturday.
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He said both men and women across the kingdom are into fishing, adding that teaching them modern ways of preserving fish will enable them to start exporting such fish to other countries.
Koto said Igu kingdom has a lot of potentials in fishing, noting that a whole month can be reserved to harvest fish at different ponds across the kingdom.
He said the Igu-Kotonkarfe kingdom has been holding fishing festivals right from the inception of the kingdom locally, until 2017 when the fishing festival was organised to attract tourists.
Koto said the main fishing festival was usually held between February and April yearly when the water level has dropped.
Also speaking, a House of Representatives member for Kotonkarfe/Lokoja federal constituency, Barrister Shaban Ibrahim, said he decided to partner with the Ministry of Special Duties to sensitize the people of his constituency on the preservation of their culture.
He said the fishing event would go a long way to attract more tourists to Igu-Kotonkarfe kingdom, adding that it would boost the economic activities of the people of his constituency.
In his speech, President General of Kotonkarfe Area Development Union (KADU), Alhaji Abdulrahman Wuya, noted that the Igu-Kotonkarfe fishing festival drives the local economy of the community through derivable economic benefits, especially during the festival period.
“It is also an avenue and opportunity for the community elders and leaders to strengthen the values and beliefs system in the sons and daughters of the kingdom,” he said.
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