THERE are strong indications that this year’s edition of the socio-cultural festival in the ancient city of Ibadan, Oke’badan Festival, will be grand in style.

According to a press release by Applause Media Concept, signed by the festival official partner, Mr Kunle Bakare, and made available to Tribune Tourism Magazine, both the Olubadan in Council and the Central Council for Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) have consented to the repackaging of the festival.

The statement added that the festival, which will henceforth be segmented into traditional blessing, family parades, beauty pageant and conferment of awards on worthy sons and daughters of the ancient city, both at home and in the Diaspora, will be packaged by 1Pole Art and Culture Entertainment.

The Chief Executive Officer of the 1pole Art and Culture Entertainment, Mr Babalola Saheed, in a chat with Tribune Tourism Magazine disclosed that already, blue chips companies as well as telecoms companies have started scrambling to be the official sponsor of the programme.

“We have started getting calls from some big companies, but we will take our time to give the right to credible ones to ensure the success of the festival, making it achieve the rationale behind its emergence, and also boost tourism promotion in the state,” Babalola said.

The festival will hold next month.