In the coming months, Ilotombi, the capital town of Okolondeng village in the Andoni LGA of Rivers State will come alive. Tourists from within and outside the Local Government Area will converge on the town to witness yet another edition of the annual Okolondeng fishing festival.
Okolondeng fishing festival is an annual event to showcase the consistent connection of Obolo’s fishing culture to Nigerian’s and the world, and also to identify with the age long fishing cultural heritage of the Obolo people in the Niger Delta region.
Ilotombi community, host of the annual festival has been of greater economic importance to the Andoni people, Rivers State and Nigeria in general as it contributes to the daily sustainenace of the citizenry through its abundance of extractive agricultural produce.
Though without official sponsorship by any company as its corporate social responsibility, the people of Ilotombi have severally organized the festival to showcase the fishing cultural heritage of the Obolo people and Ilotombi in particular.
The 2013 edition of the fishing festival was however flagged off by the then chairman of the local government council, Hon. Oron Nte Ereforokuma, who was represented by his vice elder, Hon. Sampson Gilbert Egop.
It is on record that the Andoni LGA had pledged to officially sponsor subsequent fishing festival haven participated, seen, and acknowledged the economic significance of the fishing festival to not only the Andoni people, Rivers, Nigeria but the world at large.
However, the local government promises which include formal notification and recommendation to the state ministry of Agriculture for participation and sponsorship is yet to be fulfilled by the local government.
Okolondeng fishing village is few miles away from Oyorokoto community, the largest fishing settlement in African sub region. The gains, pleasure as well as economic benefits derivable from the Okolondeng fishing festival cannot be overemphasized. It is better experienced than being told.
In a chat with the organizers and custodian of the famous Okolondeng fishing festival, it was revealed that committees for the 2016 edition of the festival would soon be constituted, while they are appealing to the state Ministry of Agriculture headed by Barr. Onimim Jacks and Andoni LGA to both sponsor the event and participate for the growth of agricultural sector and well being of the citizenry.
The Newswriter equally gathered that the Okolondeng creek and waterways would as a matter of importance be closed against daily fishing to allow for productivity and good catch during the festival. ###
