No be small matter o! Kebbi State no dey sleep as e don plan to use the 2026 Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival shine for foreign investors wey wan show face. Dis festival no be just ordinary show; na serious business dem dey talk am!
According to Kebbi Investment Promotion Agency (KIPA), investors from Europe and Asia don dey eye the festival well well. Dem talk say dis one na the strongest investor interest wey dem don see for the past few years. Na Dr Muhammed Kabir Kamba, wetin be the director-general of KIPA, come yan dis gist. He say dis interest na direct result of Governor Nasir Idris’s serious investment work.
Kamba no just stop there o. E talk say dem dey do meetings with local business people to ensure everybody go fit work together and make the engagement produce real partnerships. Governor Idris don tell dem to waka with all the stakeholders to make sure investors get correct welcome. Dis one no be just about culture; na about business and development as well!
As part of the plan, dem go gather investors, state institutions, and our local businesses for a special forum during the festival to showcase opportunities for agro-processing, mineral sourcing and even value-chain industries. Na wa! Kebbi don really step up!
KIPA dey also work on how to make hotel owners and those wey dey operate hospitality for the state better prepare for international guests. Kamba don dey talk to dem, say make dem upgrade their facilities. “We no go allow anything lesser than correct operational standards,” he talk. Make visitors no just come, make dem enjoy Kebbi well well!
The Argungu Festival wey start since 1934 don become one of Africa’s top cultural events. E dey attract plenty people; from tourists to diplomats, culture lovers, and even big businesses. But, as e dey happen for some places, security wahala and logistics issues don put e on hold for some time. E don affect tourism and culture na im make dem slow down. But we dey hear say dis 2026 edition go be major comeback as dem don do plenty reforms.
Recently, Governor Idris don sign law wey dey allow people get Certificates of Occupancy for land, whether residential, commercial or industrial. Dis one go help make business dey easier and attract more investments come Kebbi. Economic analysts don dey talk say if dem fit do dis festival well, e go reposition Kebbi as one cultural-tourism hub wey go fit expand non-oil revenue. Imagine the money!
The Deputy Governor, wey also be the chairman for the Festival Organising Committee, Senator Umar Abubakar Tafida, don talk say dem dey finalize everything wey concern the festival. “We go deliver world-class festival wey go showcase our culture, boost tourism, and ginger our economy,” Tafida yarn.
The festival go happen from February 11 to 14, and we dey ready to see how e go play out. Make we no miss am, because e go sweet!
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