A cross section of some Urhobo notable personalities who came to grace the occasion during Urhobo Music and Festival Awards ceremony held at Wetland Hotel, Mofor Junction in Udu Local Government Area,Near Warri, Delta State
By Victor Umukoro Kobodokuni.
Chief Execute Officer(CEO), Urhobo Musical Festival and Awards(UMFA) Mr. Theophilus Akatugba has urged all sons and daughters of Urhobo Ethnic Nationality across the globe to promote their culture which language forms a part, to avoid being dominated by other smaller ethnic nationality.
Mr Akatugba gave this advice recently at first edition of Urhobo Musical Festival and Award ceremony held at Wetland Hotel, Mofor Junction in Udu Local Government Area, Delta State. According to him, the basic financial objectives of the event especially that of establishing the brand has been achieved. According to him, Urhobos, to some extent, have launched their real dreams and assured that the following week would be better, expressing happiness for his entire team just as he described the event as momentous celebrations.
Mr Akatugba said he sincerely believed that the Urhobo people would rise to their full potentials saying that Delta State would feel the impact. He however said the Urhobos are fighting to experience development. According to him, the Urhobos have ambition to organize themselves saying smaller ethnic groups are more organized than Urhobo as a people. He however said the Urhobos still have the opportunity to brace up to this challenge by contributing their quota to their people.
Mr Akatugba commended the awardees to have graced the occasion saying that he was sure that the awardees were amazed what they saw in terms of organization despite their struggle to achieve their specific dreams.He said he so confident that they did not come to give the awards with the complete understandings for financial gains at first attempt, but much later there is going to be a financial gains.
Mr Akatugba said that the awards given to the awardees as the winners were based on special recognition, life time achievements among others.According to him, the audience at the event were not enough. He however said they have experience to show for it just as he attributed low turn up to high cost of gate fees, the timing , the Christmas season where everyone is busy for the Christmas preparations. The COE said that the inflation in the economy also affected audience in this regard. He however assured that by next year edition of this event, they would surely have a larger audience.
In an interview, Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Ede Dafinone promised to contribute meaninfully to the growth and development of Urhobo Musical Festival Awards Initiatives.
Chief Ede who was represented by Chief Justin Oberhiri, said the programme is unique just as he said, it would stand the test of time by promoting oneness, unity and understanding among the Urhobos. According to him, he enjoys putting his best in such a lucrative platform that would benefit his people and therefore urged the Urhobos to work, understand and maximize their strength to the best advantage of Urhobo land. He said Urhobos are very beautiful people with beautiful culture, adding that if they can harness these attributes, they would attain enviable height.
On her part, Mrs. Ayuya Oghenerubiayan, expressed happiness with the ceremony which showcased the culture of Urhobo just she said she is fully support of the programme as it would unite Urhobo as a people.She therefore advised the organizers of the programme to be mindful of the time and season when the programme could be held in the interest of the Urhobo nation in particular and Nigeria in general.Not left is Mrs. Eforhare Ufuoma. She described the ceremony as fantastic and super saying that she wants this programme to continue to be featured from time to time as it would bring unity, love and progress among the Urhobo people.
Her words:” Since the Urhobo people are one of the fifth largest ethnic groups in Nigeria, they are supposed to come together to share love, unity, understanding which would promote their culture to a very large extent”.On his part, Mr.Umukoro Emobosa, a Professional Urhobo Orator, (A.k.a Professor Jogodo), described the event as the first of its kind in Urhobo Nation and encouraged Urhobos to continue to make themselves available in a ceremony such as this.
According to him, with this, they don’t only promote their culture and tradition by so doing, they also project the Urhobo to the outside world saying that, Urhobos can advertise themselves, their culture which language forms a part and music to the western world through the platform of this event. Others who spoke with newsmen include, Mr. Friday Debala, Mrs. Ruth Debala Avwemoya and others.
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