The Nigerian government has declared its readiness to keep honouring the country’s heritage and culture while giving young people opportunities and promoting national development.

The Minister for Art, Culture, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, stated this during the grand finale of the 2024 World Sango Festival, saying the festival is not merely an occasion but a component of Nigeria’s heritage and culture.

Musawa noted that the Ministry of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, under her supervision, will continue to collaborate with the Oyo State Government in promoting tourism, culture and heritage.

Similarly, the Acting Governor of Oyo State, Bayo Lawal, declared that the current administration, under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde, will continue to lend its support to the development of the Yoruba culture and heritage.

Lawal noted that Sango festivity remains a socio-cultural mechanism of extreme importance for unity, mass participation, as well as a sense of belonging and common identity of the Yoruba people.

He affirmed that one of the benefits of the World Sango Festival is that it generates revenue, and is also about the environment, history and culture of the people.

Lawal expressed happiness that the World Sango Festival has been recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), as one of the heritages that must be observed internationally.

The acting governor equally expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his support of the Yoruba heritage, emphasising that the celebration is in consonance with Nigeria’s constitution on religious freedom, which is inextricably linked to Yoruba culture and tourism.

He said: “The current administration under Governor Seyi Makinde is ready to lend its support to whatever is needed to lift the culture and heritage higher.

“The presence of the Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, among others, makes today’s event significant and shows how well-known Sango culture is both locally and internationally,” the acting governor stated.

The grand finale of the 2024 World Sango Festival was held, on Saturday, at the Festival Arena, Palace of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oyo Town, in Oyo State.