By Bisade Ojoye
The yearly colourful Ojude Oba (Eid-Kabir) festival which had been put on hold for two years due to Covid-19 pandemic will this year hold on July 11, 2022 in Ijebu Ode.
Speaking at the Press Conference, the Coordinator of the festival, Dr Fassy Yusuf said that the annual celebration of the rich cultural heritage of the Ijebu people has undoubtedly over the years impacted on the socio-economic development of Ijebu land.
Dr Fassy Yusuf stated that Ojude Oba festival is not only for merry making or display of exquisite fabrics but also a veritable platform to reunite with family members, associates and rally support for self help projects that are geared towards developing Ijebu land.
He said that the people of Ijebu land could not wait to celebrate this year Ojude Oba festival which had for two years been suspended due to the hazards of Covid-19 pandemic.
Dr Fassy Yusuf also declared that Gov Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State is the Special Guest Honour for this year festival. Gov Sanwo-Olu would be joining the league of former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Aliko Dangote among other eminent Nigerians that had once graced the cultural festival.
Rejoicing with the people of Ijebu land over the return of Ojude Oba festival, the Commissioner for Tourism in the state, Dr Oluwatoyin Taiwo said that the present administration in the state would continue to support efforts at preserving and promoting the rich cultural heritage of the people of the state.
Dr Taiwo has however called for the adoption of Adire by the age grades (Regbe Regbe) during this annual festival saying that it would help a lot to give international recognition to this indigenous fabric which has its origin in the state.
Telecommunication giant Globacom, provider of Glo services has announced a special package to support the festival in order to make it as memorable as it used to be.
The indigenous telecom company stated that characteristically, to support and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the people, Globacom would be running a special consumer promo to add colours to this year’s Ojude Oba festival which would enable its lucky subscribers to win 10 tricycles, television sets, grinding machine and lots more.
Mr Ikenna Aguwuom, Globacom Regional Manager, Ogun State, unveiled this special consumer promo yesterday, during the press conference held on Friday at the palace of Awujale of Ijebu land, Oba Kayode Sikiru Adetona.
Aguwuom explained that to win any of these mouthwatering prizes a new Glo subscriber would be required to activate a Glo sim and recharge with a minimum of N1500 while existing customers would need to recharge a minimum of N1000 before July 8 to qualify for the draws.
He disclosed further that those who missed this pre-event raffle window could simply spend N5000 or more at the festival ground on the Glo network to stand a chance of winning any of the prizes.
The Regional Manager revealed further that winners of the best dressed age-grade (Regbe Regbe) in both male and female categories would go home with N500,000 while their runners-up would receive N300,000 and N200,000 respectively
He stated that for those who showed dexterity and unusual skills during the Balogun competition for horse-riding, the winner would go home with N300,000 while the first and second runners-up would go home with N200,000 and N100,000 respectively.
Aguwuom stated that the telecom giant will cap the fun of this year Ojude Oba festival with an evening of music fiesta where Fuji superstar, Akande Abass Obesere and Tope Makanaki would be on band stand to entertain the audience.
This he said would be done alongside beauty pageant where one of the beautiful Ijebu-born ladies would be crowned Miss Ojude Oba 2022.
Aguwuom said that Globacom’s involvement in the annual festival is geared towards celebrating the unique tradition of Ijebu people and at the same time, fostering the cause of tourism which the festival had promoted for more than 100 years.
DAILY DIGEST 