The United Bank for Africa (UBA) PIc has announced the donation of N5 million as support of the successful hosting of this year's Argungu International festival holding in Kebbi State beginning from last week.

The bank said the donation was its commitment to the development of tourism, arts and cultural heritage in the country.

The four-day Annual Argungu Fishing Festival (AFF), which began in 1934, is one of the oldest and widely attended cultural activities in Nigeria attracting widespread local and international participation each year.

Announcing the support in Abuja, the bank's deputy managing director, Mrs. Faith Tuedor- Matthews, while announcing the support in Abuja, said UBA's support for the 2009 edition of the fishing festival was predicated on the collective need to help advance the rich cultural heritage of the people of Nigeria.

Mrs. Tuedor-Mathew, according to a statement by the bank last week, said beside the provision of world class financial services, had been in the fore-front of several corporate social corporate reasonability initiatives aimed at giving back to the society.

"Argungu International Fishing Festival has brought fame and honour to the people of the North in particular and Nigeria in general as evidenced by the large turn out of people to witness the event every year. Support from global organisations like the UBA is required to further encourage its growth and development," she said.