2011 and you ask yourself whether Akure can still be referred to as an ancient town. Rapid urbanization is taking place, as the sitting governor, Olusegun Mimiko, leads his team to round-the-clock developmental work across Ondo State. The once peaceful town now has honking horns, a water fountain and neighborhood parks. And people relocating to it. And with the annual Mare festival, more and more people keep coming in.

Mare festival has become an annual mountain-climbing event. In its third year, Mare has become bigger and just one visit, you will understand why. The community, Idanre, is surrounded by seven hills each with distinct identities and stories. Mare now gives people the opportunity to share this wonder of Ondo State.

Love at first site

Site raking was a week to the event. We met with the client, the Ondo State Ministry of tourism, led by the honourable commissioner for culture and tourism, Deji Falaye, at the venue: Methodist Primary School Idanre. As the evening approached, so did calm. We saw the beauty of Idanre hills at every turn. It was a sight to behold. Soon we set to work.

Let the race begin

The journey to the top was no easy one. For three days, December 15-17, it was all festivities. There was the marathon race, cultural displays to follow, and of course the mountain climbing exercise. This year, the international experts took kids on mountain climbing exercises. So, did we climb? Err… Not like we couldn’t but we thought it was wiser to stick to our brief, which was the technical set-up.

Photos… Njoy!

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