Kebbi’s Rigata Boat Festival To Attain International Standard-Emir Of Yauri

From Ayodele Ajoge, Birnin- Kebbi

The annual Rigata Boat Festival of the Yauri people in Yauri Emirat of Kebbi State which comes up next month is to attain international status, as the Emir of Yauri,  Alhaji, Dr Muhammad Zayyanu Abdullahi, has charged this year organisers to work round the clock to make sure this year event attain international standard. 

Speaking to newsmen in Birnin Kebbi, shortly  after a stakeholder meeting with members of the publicity committee which is the first phase of the meeting before the festival, the representative of the Emir, at the meeting, who also doubles as the vice Chairman of the committee, Alhaji Abubakar Saidu Yakubu Abarshi (Ubandoman Yauri), said that the purpose of the meeting was to fine tune the preparation of the forth coming festival next month.

According to him, the publicity committee have identified grey areas which failed to give the festival held last year the publicity it requires to meet global standard, pointing out that, “we have itemised the problems and we are working to erase them completely to ensure total global acceptable standards.”

The committee also decried poor publicity of last year’s festival —hence the reason they convened the meeting to seek media assistance and collaboration because the press are critical stakeholders in  the propagation and promotion of the festival which would become international in nature. 

Ritaga festival is an annual cultural festival which showcases the rich culture of Yauri emirate and the people of Kebbi State upon its elevation to international standard, foreign tourists are expected in Yauri to boost global ties and bring revenue to Kebbi State.