At Argungu Fishing Festival 2008 Edition: Runsewe bags Dan Buran kabi;
Adetokunbo Kayode commissions Fish House; Biggest fish weights 65.98kg

By Wale Ojo-Lanre

The first fish house in NigeriaTHE 50th edition of Argungu International Fishing Festival which took place at Argungu Village, Birnin Kebbi, between March 12-15 would go down in the history as the best ever in packaging, programming, varieties of events, and attendance by international visitors. The 2008 edition was much more than fishing as two events, the commissioning of the Fish House which was a donation of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) by the Minister for Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode and the installation of Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, Director-General, NTDC, as the DanBuran Kabi, Argungu, added colour of value to the fishing festival.

The Fish House was a source of attraction at the fishing village because of the ingenuity employed in its design, painting and location. One needs no optometrist to be able to know that it was a fish house, which has its lower part painted in blue colour as if the fish is inside the water. And the commissioning kicked-started the elaborate ceremony of 2008 edition of Argungu Fishing Festival. Speaking during the commissioning which was witnessed by the Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Samaila Mohammed Mera, the state governor, Alhaji Usman N. Dakagari, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode commended the efforts of the Argungu Emirate Council for enhancing the fish festival from a local affair to an international event.

Prince Adetokunbo Kayode who commended the Director-General, NTDC, Otunba Runsewe for being proactive and innovative at thinking that such a symbolic representation of the festival was necessary, assured the Argungu Emirate Council of support for the festival. “In his own remark, the Governor of Kebbi State, Alhaji Usman N. Dakingari lauded the tourism vision of the federal government and noted that “there has been a tremendous improvement in gearing up of efforts since the present democratic experience at exploring the social and economic advantages of our cultural and tourism assets.”

Alhaji Dankingari lauded the agility and drive with which while Otunba Olusegun Runsewe drives the tourism vision and policy of the President Umar Musa Yar’Adua. He said that since the commencement of the fishing festival, no one has thought it fit to build a structure that resemble a fish, “we have the Grand Fishing Hotel, we have the Fishing Village and now the Fish House inside the Fishing Village. This is very thoughtful of Otunba Runsewe, DG, NTDC. The Otunba Runsewe who conducted the eminent dignitaries on the tour of the Fish House praised the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode for the support as seeing that the Fish House became a reality.

“Your Excellency, our royal fathers, this structure, which represent a fish inside a blue water and equipped with ultra-modern communication gadgets and equipment with internet facilities where our media practitioners could carried out their assignment, a functional clinic, two standard studio, and functional rooms, may not have become a reality, if the Minister had refused to buy the idea.” Bringing the reality of the functionality and import of the Fish House to the fore was the stream of journalists who immediately swarmed on the communication room sending their stories to their various media houses.

“According to Mr. Sola Balogun of the Guardian Newspapers, planting of the Fish House is a master stroke from the NTDC, a parastatal charged to market and promote tourism. The facilities there in compete well with those we find at international tourism centres. Foreign journalists and locals no longer worry about where to seek information, down load pictures, send stories, scan pictures and access information. This is what is obtained in developed countries and this has made the festival truly international. This is impressive and it will be gratifying if all other international tourism sites can have this. ”The train then moved to the Grand Fishing Hotel where a seminar thoughtful “Tourism development as a panacea for a sustainable economic development took place. And the night was blessed with cultural display at the Arena which was supported and enhanced by the multi-complex musical equipment and lightings facilities brought by “I AM” which dazzled all.

Thursday - Day 2
At the Trade Fair Ground, Argungu, there was exhibition of agricultural products by all the local government councils in Kebbi State in the morning while the inter-state cultural competition where Oyo State contigent displayed a thought provoking dance drama.

The making of Danburan
Friday 14 March 2008 was not just another day in the history of Argungu Fishing Festival, for it was not just a day that was devoted only for Kabanchi display and water sports competition, neither just a day of a mini-dubar, rather it has gone down in history as a day in the cherished life of Argungu when a non-indigene was honoured with a chieftaincy title in the presence of almost all the most important Emirs in the northern States with the blessing of the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji SA’AD Abubakar III, CFR.

As soon as the event beside the Rima River ended on Friday and faithfuls observed the JUMAT service, guest and tourist were invited to the Emir of Argungu Palace where Otunba Olusegun Runsewe was to be installed as the DanBuran of Kabi, Argungu, a title which is only reserved for a royal son of Argungu Palace who has distinguished himself in rendering inestimate contributions to the development of the Emirate.

According to Alhaji Abubakar, one of the palace guard, “Today is great in the life of this city and in the life of the man who is being honoured today. This is the first time that a non-indigenes would be installed as DanBuran, Kabi in full ceremony and din the presence of the Emir of Argungu, Emir of Gwandu, Tor-Tiv, Emir of Ilorin, El Kanem of Bornu, the Elerin of Erin, Kwara State and with the physical presence of His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III.

And in the full glare of a mammoth crowd of well wishers which include the Ambassador of South Korea, the Emir of Argungu superintended the turbaning of Otunba Olusegun Runsewe as DanBuran, Kabi Argungu.

According to His Royal Majesty, Alhaji Samaila Muhammed Mera, Emir of Argungu “This title being bestowed on Otunba Olusegun Runsewe belongs to the Argungu Royal family. That is being bestowed on you is in recognition of your inestimable contributions to the revival of Argungu Fishing Festival and in tourism in Nigeria. This means we have adopted you as a son of the palace. Your brief period at the NTDC has brought unquantifiable glory to tourism in Nigeria. The innovation which you brought into the packaging and organisation of the Argungu festival should not go uncommended. We in the Emirate appreciate you and found you worthy of this title: DanBuran Kabi Argungu.”

After the presentation of appurtenances of office, the Emir of Argungu led the new DanBuran inside the inner chamber where the Sultan of Sokoto planted himself on a golden royal throne for blessing. And His Eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar directed one of the revered descendants of Uthman dan Fodio to pray for Otunba Runsewe. After the prayer, the Sultan remarked “The title being bestowed on you today by the Emir of Argungu despite the fact that you are a non-indigene is a testimony and confirmation of your exemplary service to the nation in general through tourism and to the Argungu Emirate Council through the resuscitation of the historical Argungu Fishing Festival. This is great. You are one of the very few personalities in Nigeria who are walking themselves into being title holders of the Sokoto Caliphate. Keep it up.”

The new DanBuran was not only grateful to the Sultan and Argungu Emirate council but entertained journalists at the Fish House where a dancing competition was held and winners go home with fantastic prizes. On Saturday, the Grand Finale was held at the Bank of River Rima, where the wife of the Vice-President, Mrs. Goodluck Jonathan represented the special Guest of Honour, and the biggest fish with a weight of 65.9 kg was caught by Mallam Bello Ya’u, who went home with a car donated by one of the sponsors with others prizes and gifts.

Thus ended an improved, better packaged and well attended by both foreign and local tourists, 2008 Argungu Fishing Festival under Alhaji Ibrahim Aliyu, Deputy Governor, who was the Chairman, Festival Main Organisation Committee.
(More stories next week)

Ayo Ladipo counsels Hotelympians in London

By Wale Ojo Lanre

From left, Mr. Tim Murym, Ayo Ladipo,
Ken Elsoh and Dr. T.H. Thara at Excel,
Docklands, LondonTHE former Managing Director of Premier Hotel, Mr. Ayodele Ladipo, who owns Marble Suites, located in new Bodija Estate, Ibadan, Oyo State penultimate week made a good show of himself in London when he addressed Hotelympians at Excel Exhibition Centre, Docklands, London. Ayo Ladipo who was one of the participants at the Trade Show organised by Association of World Caterers and Hotel Manager, christened Hotelympians addressed the world seasoned chefs on quality service. Ayo whose paper was remarked to be one of the best emphasized that what the hotels need is the will to sustain the market and expand the scope is to ensure total quality service by ensuring total quality management.

“What distinguishes a hotel from another is the value each places on quality.” Quality, Ayo said must be total, “Right from the brochure, your copy of advert, your staff, your door-man, to the fixtures and fittings, facilities, equipment and even your horticultural to the service must ooze out brazen quality. The CEO Marble Suite and chairman, Hotel Solutions declared that “quality service has nothing to do with the magnificience of the hotel. It is what do we have to offer, which is the niche we try to carve for ourselves and make us tower above others.”