Diri Seeks Corporate Support for Bayelsa Cultural Festivals

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has called on corporate organisations operating in the state to support the promotion and preservation of the state's cultural heritage by sponsoring traditional festivals as part of their corporate social responsibility.

Diri made the appeal on Monday during the opening ceremony of the 69th Odi Ogori Ba Uge International Festival in Odi Community, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area.

The governor said festivals such as the Odi Ogori Ba Uge celebration are deeply rooted in the history, identity, and economic survival of the people, stressing that greater private-sector involvement is needed to sustain them.

He explained that the festival symbolises unity, resilience and the liberation of the Odi people from a mysterious buffalo that once prevented them from carrying out farming and other economic activities.

Diri commended the community for preserving its history through the annual festival and urged participants to understand the celebration's significance beyond its festivities.

He noted that cultural festivals in many parts of the world are largely funded by private organisations rather than government and encouraged banks and other corporate bodies in Bayelsa to embrace similar initiatives.

According to the governor, the festival's history reflects the people's determination to unite against adversity and secure their freedom.

Earlier, Chairman of the 2026 Odi Ogori Ba Uge International Festival Planning Committee, Prof. Ebikisei Udisi, described the event as more than an annual celebration, saying it serves as a reminder of the community's history and cultural identity.

Udisi said the festival commemorates the victory of the Odi people over the dreaded Ogori, a wild buffalo believed to have terrorised the community for about five years, disrupting farming, trade and other social activities.

He noted that the annual celebration honours the sacrifices of the community's ancestors and founding fathers, including King Akabagu Ofurugbo, under whose reign the event occurred, and Akara Edike, who was credited with killing the buffalo; adding that the festival remains a symbol of survival, unity and the preservation of history for future generations.