Read the wonders of Mare 2014

Mare Festival celebrates amity between hills and people By Oredola Crown Idanre community came alive at the weekend as the 2014 edition of Mare Festival; a tourism celebration built around the major hills in Idanre thrilled the residents and tourists. OREDOLA ADEOLA, who witnessed the 3-day non-stop sporting and cultural fiesta, reports The attention given by the Ondo State government to the development of the various tourism potentials in the state, after the level of success recorded in infrastructure, health, education and agriculture has been appreciated not only by the citizens of the state but also participants at the just concluded MARE FESTIVAL. The state through the efforts of the governor has been able to open up the tourism sector for investment; particularly the upgrading of the status of the Idanre hill, which participants at the festival said would guarantee good returns on investments. The tapestry of the hills and its topography have made the ancient town to wear an Eden like looks, the Idanre hills , with a height of about 300-feet, shows the awesome wonders of nature. The majestic outlay of the magical mountains shaped like a pyramid, gives credence to the claim by the indigenes that there was once a conference of hills that have refused go. The magical mountains are claimed to possess the power which they use to protect the entire Idanre kingdom from insurgents and war. MARE Festival, since inception in 2009, has not only proven to be a major tourism celebration in the country, but has further complimented the state’s bid for the endorsement as world heritage site by United Nation Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The festival which was instituted by the Governor Olusegun Mimiko, as MARE, which is interpreted as “Don’t fall”, is an annual international mountain-climbing celebration, drawing enthusiasts from within and outside the country to the state. The 3-day activities-packed event is a multi-purpose festival. It has grown to become a much anticipated festival because of its marathon race, arts exhibition and cultural display as well as the mountain climbing event. However for the first time other sports including Badminton, cycling, Table Tennis and skirting were introduced to boost its outlook. All of the various sporting activities produced winners who were rewarded with cash prizes and laurels. The climax of the various sporting activities is the much trumpeted MARE Mountain climbing which was won by young athletes. While for the first time the event was held at feet of the Olofin Mountain, a major mountain, where the Iroko Mountain Resorts, that has three tree houses called Ile Ori-Igi and Ile Oriota out of the 24 proposed resorts. The event took off on Thursday December 11, 2014 with tennis, badminton competition and wrestling, followed with cultural and command performances at the Idanre hills resort. On Friday 12, December, the Idanre Hills Resorts was officially launched and it ended on Saturday, December 13, 2014, with cycling ,HIking and Marathon, Float display and Musical performance with a star performance by sensational hip star, Jaywon who thrilled the crowd at the grand finale with his songs. At the launching of the resort, the special Adviser to the Governor of Osun state on tourism, Ambassador Wanle Akinboboye, disclosed that the conceptualization and developmental of the hill resorts, has uplifted the economic status of the Idanre community. He noted that the festival since inception has attracted international tourists to the ancient town because of its beauty and richness in culture. He said that the festival has opened up investment opportunities into the town. He charged participants at the event that the various edifices being enjoyed today are built by yesterday people. He however advised that present generation to begin to build structures that will serve the needs of the tomorrow’s people. According to Mrs Sally Mbanefo, Director General, Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Ondo State is the favourite state for tourism. She said “as a result of the level of development in the state’s tourism sector, I have continued to promote the various tourism potentials to the global community. Ondo state people are great in hospitality, each time I visit the state, there is always something beautiful that makes me feel at home. As an advocate of domestic tourism, the changes in the state and particularly Idanre hill since the last time I visited it is so dramatic. Ondo state is today the shining light in the Medical Tourism in the country. I commend the level of work carried out at the Idanre resort which has employed more than two hundred workers.” Mbanefo in her speech said "Ondo state is a major tourism destination because of the large deposit of tourism potentials. The government has worked so hard to improve the status of the state economically. Within my short stay in the office as the Director General of the NTDC, I have tour more than 20 states and participated in many festivals but south West particularly Ondo state is the best, the development of tourism particularly the resort is an awesome and amazing experience which will be fascinating. ThE resort is another testimony of the transformational work of the state governor and his team” While pledging her continuous support for the festival, the DG, who also joined the traditional dancers to dance to the local beat during one of the performances at the opening ceremony of Idanre Resorts, promised to always partner with the state government in the marketing of the festival to international tourists. According to her, Overland airline has indicated interest to commence commercial flight from Akure- Abuja and Lagos in order to facilitate the movement of tourists and fun seekers to various tourism destinations in the state. The Commissioner of Information, Mr Kayode Akinmade, at the festival revealed that the inauguration of the Resorts has brought fascinating dimensions into the celebration. He added that 2014 edition of the festival was a watershed in the history of Idanre and Ondo state. He noted that through the festival the economic activities of the community have received extraordinary boost, as hotels and businesses in the community have recorded huge patronage compared to the previous edition. Iya Elizabeth, who owns a cafeteria, where she sell local foods including native delicacies called, Pupuru and pounded yam, revealed that the festival has positively impacted her business. She revealed that in during the festival she made about 500 percent increase compared with other days. Patronage has improved and I wish the festival is extended. At a popular restaurant Alhaja’s Bar, the manager, Mrs Ibukun, revealed that she has recorded huge patronage, since the kick off if the festival. Also at the transport operators and hotels in the community also had huge patronage thereby leading to scarcity. The festival also created a platform for budding talents in the entertainment industry as over 200, young talents were discovered during the auditioning and the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor Of Ondo State, Ambassador Wanle Akinboboye, said the government will initiate the exchange programme with some countries so as to fast tract the full development of those talents into a full potentials who will also contribute to the shining glory of Ondo State. Participants at the festival revealed that the festival has improved as the various mountains that had been develop into a world class masterpiece with works of arts. The resort has a functioning bar open stage, swimming pool, indoor game centre and a wooden house showing the creative prowess of tourism impresario, Ambassador Wanle Akinboboye, Director, who innovated the various architectural works at the sites. In his address, the state Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko informed participants at the festival ' this is a realization of our dream to make Ondo state a leading tourism destination in Nigeria. I have no doubt that with the collective efforts of various stakeholders who are working round the clock to upgrade the status of the tourism masterpiece located in Idanre town, Ondo state is on the path to being a major tourist destination in Africa. Mimiko said " The next Mare festival will be bigger and cultural events of global reckoning, he however commend the people of Idanre and their traditional rulers for their support in making the building of the resort to come into fruition and assured the participant that the coming year will be better as there will be new dimension and introduction of other things into the festival, the next edition of the festival will feature the host of the Atosin golf competition. At the event the governor joined by his wife, Mrs Olukemi Mimiko, received award as the Brand Domestic Tourism award of the year 2014, from the Guild of the Tourism Journalists Association of Nigeria led by Comrade Wale Ojo lanre . in his acceptance speech he promised to continue to work hard to promote domestic tourism in the country having realized tourism as a veritable tool needed to promote economy of the state . President of the GTJ in an interactive session with Journalists shortly after the presentation of the award said, the recognition is buoyed by the consistency of the governor in the celebration of Mare Festival and other cultural events in the state, " Mare is becoming a festival that will soon be drawing participants from all over the world because of the consistency and the introduction of new innovations into the programme" . Mr Governor's effort in creating a tourism hub in ondo state is acknowledge and we use this award to appreciate him and encourage him not to relent in his bid in the state and we want other governor to emulate him. About forty artistes display their dexterity in dance and music as the as the memories of the musical legend like Hubert Ogunde, Orlando Owo, and others were brought to memories through some folks who sand exactly like them, Olo onibata, Aanu Ekwe , Jay one and other artists thrilled the audience with their music while traditional dancer and musician also display their talents. The music of Rotimi Idanre and Skiddo got the governor standing up dancing to the melodius tunes . it also witnessed the presence of Nollywood actors from the state. Prizes were given to winners of the sporting completions and local games during the events as Akinbolade prince and Ayodeji Folashade emerges winners in the mountain climbing events, Akin Bimbola and Oluwafemi Dele won the Warin( Fast Walk ), while Engineer Gboye Adegbenro, Constate Asasia, Tunji ojuolape and Folashade oni also won the gold tournaments at the smoking hills gold course Ilara Mokin . Ambassador Wanle Akinboboye, the special adviser to the governor was also presented. Tourism stakeholders who witnessed the event however urged the state government to actively engage the community in the organization of the MARE festival, they advocated for the inclusion of the various community groups in the selection of the festival committee. They also charged the organizer to develop crowd control mechanism to cater for the massive turn out of participant to make the festival save for tourists. Analysts also charged the government and the community to offer incentives to investors to develop first class hotels within the community to cater to the huge demand as all the hotels available in the town and the state capital Akure, were booked up.