Nigeria’s dominance of West Africa’s burgeoning sports and cultural tourism industry will be further showcased at the annual Argungu Polo Tournament and Cultural Fete, from September 8-10, 2022. This year’s tournament and fete will be held at the sprawling NSK Polo Ranch and Resort in Argungu, Kebbi State.
Argungu Polo Tournament and Culture Fete has over the years lived-up to its billing as one of the most spectacular and massively visited African Polo and cultural tourism festivals in Nigeria. More so, Argungu is one of Nigeria’s historically significant towns and the host town of UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage asset in Nigeria – the famous Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival.
This year will be the 7th edition of the polo and cultural fete. Since inception in 2016, leading polo teams from popular Nigerian polo clubs have regularly featured in the prestigious tournament. The Argungu Polo Tournament and Cultural Fete is positioned as the lead sporting event, especially for polo, and cultural tourism in Nigeria and West African countries.
Over the years, the tournament organisers have consistently rallied stakeholders in the polo and tourism communities and corporate Nigeria to partner in making the event more beneficial to the rural host economies. It will be recalled that NSK Ranch & Resort started hosting the Polo Tournament in Keffi, Nasarawa State and now holds the event in Argungu, Kebbi State.
In recent years of the event, cultural entertainment groups from neighbouring West African countries have been enchanting residents, visitors and tourists with awe-inspiring traditional performances, including groups from Niger Republic, Benin Republic and the ancient kingdom of Argungu, the host destination, now being referred as Argungu Emirate. The Emirate’s territory spans parts of North-Western Nigeria and Southern Niger Republic.
The Organising Committee of the 2022 Argungu Polo Tournament and Cultural Fete have announced that participating clubs in the tournament will be playing to win any of the prestigious cups such as; Governor’s Cup, Sultan’s Cup, Emir of Argungu’s Cup, Emir of Kano’s Cup, King Apollos Chu’s Cup, Lai Mohammed’s Cup, Shehu Kangiwa’s Cup and Abubakar Dangiwa Umar’s Cup, among other laurels. In all, the event organisers indicated that six polo teams will take part in the tournament in Argungu, come September 8, 2022.The teams listed include; NSK Farms Team, H. Hago Team, Ayatun Team, JRB Solar Team, NIHOTOUR Team and Osolo Team.
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Nura Sani Kangiwa, patron of Argungu Polo Tournament and Cultural Fete, who also holds the traditional title of the ‘Turakin Kebbi’, promised that activities lined-up for this year’s tourney and fete will surpass previous editions. He stated that not less than 24 polo players, some of whom are the best in Nigeria, and over 80 horses will be involved in the tournament for three days, in the pristine town of Argungu.
The Turaki assured that, this year there will be more emissaries, international dignitaries and foreign governments’ officials in attendance at the event. He further clarified that cultural entertainment groups from West African countries have confirmed their participation and are currently making arrangements accordingly. Some of the traditional displays at the event include; culinary arts, traditional wrestling, camel racing, horse racing, mini-durbar, folk dancing, bull fighting, and many other uncommon traditional spectacles.
Typically, in any week of the Argungu Polo Tournament and Cultural Fete, thousands of visitors and tourists throng Argungu town and assemble at the NSK Polo ground, thereby creating massive socio-economic opportunities and measurable benefits to residents and businesses in Argungu Emirate. The event is therefore one of the most veritable examples of successful Nigerian tourist product management by the private sector, in partnership with the host communities.
Argungu Polo Tournament and Cultural Fete serves the domestic and inbound Nigeria markets; offering the majesty of the polo game, traditional sports and cultural activities in a historic African destination. The 2022 Organizing Committee emphasised that their objective is to sustainably improve the economic multiplier-effects of the event to Kebbi State, residents, host communities and tourists alike. Argungu is nationally renowned as an agricultural produce export town with comparative advantage in rice farming, fishing and allied industries.
Turaki Nura Kangiwa extolled the pioneering roles and fatherly support provided by Samaila Mera, the Emir of Argungu, who is also the Grand Patron of the Polo Tournament. The 2022 Argungu Polo Tournament and Cultural fete is powered by Argungu Emirate Council, the Government of Kebbi State and Fan Milk, among other corporate organisations that have historically supported the event.
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