The Africa International Documentary Festival Foundation, AFIDFF, has expressed readiness to partner with the Kebbi State Government to train young people in digital content creation, documentation and promotion of the state’s rich cultural heritage.
The Director-General of AFIDFF, Malame Mangzha, disclosed this when the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed BK, led media aides of the Kebbi State Government on a courtesy visit to the Foundation to explore areas of collaboration.
Read also: Gov Idris Has Made Teachers Proud-NUT President
Malame Mangzha said AFIDFF had, for about a decade, been documenting Africa’s rich cultural heritage and history while collaborating with international organisations, including UNESCO and Google Arts & Culture, to promote heritage sites, monuments, festivals and other cultural assets.
She said the Foundation had previously documented the Argungu Fishing Festival, with videos from the coverage generating more than eighteen million views across various digital platforms.
According to her, the response to the Argungu Fishing Festival demonstrated the potential of Kebbi’s cultural events to attract global attention when professionally documented and strategically promoted.
The Director-General said AFIDFF had built a community of more than 5,000 young content creators with diverse digital skills, adding that the Foundation was prepared to extend its training opportunities to young people in Kebbi State.
Read also: Kebbi Gov’t Backs NAWOJ’s Drive for Permanent Secretariat
She said the partnership would provide opportunities for young people to acquire relevant digital skills while also contributing to the preservation and promotion of Kebbi’s cultural heritage.
Responding, the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed BK, said the visit formed part of the state government’s efforts to build strategic partnerships and advocacy networks with organisations and individuals capable of promoting Kebbi State.
He said the government was also seeking to use such partnerships to project the achievements and development initiatives of the administration of Governor Nasir Idris.
The Commissioner expressed appreciation to AFIDFF for its previous documentation of the Argungu Fishing Festival, saying the success of the project had demonstrated the potential for deeper collaboration between the Foundation and the state.
Read also: Kano Seeks Stronger Economic Ties with Saudi Arabia
He invited AFIDFF to extend its activities to other major cultural events across Kebbi State, including the Gwandu Emirate Horse-Racing Festival, Yauri Emirate Rigata Cultural Festival and Zuru Emirate Uhola Festival.
Alhaji Yakubu said greater documentation and digital promotion of the festivals would help expose Kebbi’s cultural heritage to wider national and international audiences.