Pre-event activities for the 61st Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival formally gained national momentum on Wednesday, 21 January 2026, as stakeholders convened at the NTA Headquarters Arena, Abuja, for the Festival’s Official Open Day ceremony. The event, which featured cultural performances, media engagements, and the unveiling of branded vehicles for the festival’s sensitisation campaign, drew dignitaries including the Kebbi State Government delegation, members of the diplomatic corps, cultural troupes and a UNESCO Representative, ahead of the main festival scheduled for 11–14 February 2026 in Kebbi State.
Representing the Honourable Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Dr. Mukhtar Yawale Muhammad, MFR, mni, described the Argungu Festival as a powerful platform for strengthening national cohesion while amplifying Nigeria’s cultural visibility on the global stage. He noted that the festival is more than an iconic fishing contest, describing it as a celebration of identity expressed through traditional music and dance, indigenous crafts, cuisine, canoe racing and community heritage.
Dr. Mukhtar further reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to deepening cultural tourism in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stressing that festivals of this scale create tangible value across the tourism and creative economy chain — boosting local commerce, hospitality, transportation and opportunities for artisans, performers, farmers and traders. He also commended Kebbi State’s intensified preparations, including investor interest reportedly generated through recent engagements, planned stakeholder consultative forums, and efforts to sensitise hospitality operators to upgrade their facilities to meet expected international visitor standards.
The Official Open Day programme featured a welcome address by the Director General of the Argungu International Fishing Festival, goodwill messages from key national stakeholders including the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, the Honourable Minister for Livestock Development, and the UNESCO Representative, alongside cultural entertainment by troupes from Kebbi and participating states. The event also included remarks by the Deputy Governor of Kebbi State, Senator Umar Abubakar Tafida, who chairs the Festival’s Central Planning Committee.
The ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks by the Emir of Argungu, His Royal Highness Alhaji Samaila Muhammad Mera, CON, who reaffirmed the festival’s enduring role as a platform for cultural cohesion and a proud showcase of Nigeria’s rich diversity.
Signed
Chindaya Ahmadu
Director of Press, Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy
Written by:
Sandra Njoku-Samuel
Technical Assistant, Media and Communications to the Honourable Minister
Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy (FMACTCE)
Abuja, Nigeria.
