All set for the yearly Eko Oni Baje New Yam and Beach Festival

All is set for the yearly Eko Oni Baje New Yam and Beach Festival organised by Castel Down Arts Centre, a Lagos-based art gallery and cultural promotion outfit. In a press release made available to the media by its promoter, Ozo Chinedu Idezuna, the programme would commence with Miss Eko Oni Baje beauty pageant at Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos on Friday, September 6. The programme, according to Idezuna popularly known as Ezemuo Africa, is aimed at building unity amongst Nigeria’s various ethnic groups.  This year’s outing will be celebrated with pomp and ceremony.

According to Idezuna, Eze Lawrence Eze, Eze Ndigbo in Alimosho, Alhaji T.A Jegede, and Chairman Lekki Free Trade Zone are among other dignitaries expected to attend the event along with Oba of Ibeju Lekki as special guest. The festival will showcase numerous dance groups and cultural displays, including masquerades, traditional wrestling, best yam farmer competition, palm wine drinking, display of artworks and other side attractions that would exhibit the cultural heritage of many ethnic groups. Grand finale of Eko Oni Baje New Yam and Beach Festival comes up Sunday September 15, at Eleko Beach, Ibeju Lekki.
Idezuna gave reasons why the yearly festival, has become very significant. ‘‘For years, several outcry have echoed the need for Federal Government and the private sector to look in wards into the non-oil sector of the economy. This clarion call was seen as a way out of over dependence on oil as the mainstay of the Nigeria economy. The searchlight beamed onto several other revenue potentials and tourism, culture.