The Osun government says it is working closely with the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, to ensure a hitch-free grand finale of the Osun-Osogbo Festival, scheduled for August 8.

The commissioner for culture and tourism, Abiodun Ojo, said this on Wednesday in Osogbo.

Mr Ojo said that the government was working closely with Mr Olanipekun, the custodian of the festival, to ensure that all activities for the grand finale went smoothly.

“We are doing the Osun-Osogbo Festival with the custodians, the Ataoja of Osogbo. The state government is going to give moral and financial support to the festival.

“We are going to be part of all the activities preceding the festival, including the traditional dance, lighting of ‘Atupa-Oloju Merindinlogun’, among others,” he said.

Mr Ojo also said that the state government was putting in place the ‘Osun Mega Expo’ to boost and add colour to the festival.

According to him, the expo will afford attendees the opportunity to witness the Osun-Osogbo events and the grand finale, but the expo itself is a separate event from the main festival.

Mr Ojo, however, said that the state government’s programmes for the festival would be incorporated into the mega expo to add flavour to it.

(NAN)