Nwonyo Fishing Festival Awards N10m Prize to Winner

The Nwonyo fishing festival held at Lake Nwonyo in Ibi Local Government Area, Taraba State, concluded with Ismaila Yakubu winning the top prize of N10 million for his catch weighing 52.6 kilograms. Emmanuel Daniel secured third place with a fish weighing 18.2 kilograms, earning N3 million.

The festival, which attracted tourists and dignitaries from within and outside Nigeria, was described by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a vital platform for promoting unity and community cohesion. Minister of Arts, Culture, and Tourism, Hannatu Musa Musawa, commended Governor Agbu Kefa for reviving the festival after years of abandonment, aligning with the federal government's agenda to leverage tourism for sustainable development.

Tinubu also mentioned ongoing efforts to secure global recognition for the festival from UNESCO. The event was highlighted as a means to preserve cultural heritage and promote economic development, with elder statesman Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma and Prime Minister of Grenada, Dickon Mitchell, acknowledging its significance.