The Coordinator of the Ojude Oba Festival Committee, Dr Fassy Yusuf, disclosed this on Friday in Abeokuta.

Yusuf said the festival was scheduled to hold on Sunday, in Ijebu-Ode, in honour of the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona.

He described the more than 200-year-old festival as a vital cultural heritage for the Ijebu people and a beacon of Nigeria’s rich traditions.

“The festival is expected to draw Ijebu sons and daughters from across the world, along with tourists and dignitaries eager to witness the vibrant celebration of culture, fashion, and tradition at the Utoro Centre in Ijebu-Ode,” he said.

He noted that the estimated 100 million participants include approximately 200,000 people expected to converge at the main pavilion and surrounding Utoro Centre.

“Additionally, between two and three million attendees are expected across Ijebu towns and other parts of Ogun.

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“Besides the physical turnout, millions more will be watching online through various live streaming platforms globally,” Yusuf said.

Yusuf assured intending participants of  a safe and hitch-free celebration, assuring that comprehensive security measures were being put in place.

“The Nigerian Police, NSCDC, DSS, the military, Amotekun Corps, and the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, among others, will be fully deployed to prevent any breach of security,” he said.

According to Yusuf, the Ojude Oba Festival is not only a unifying force for the Ijebu people but also boosts local economies and promotes Nigerian culture on the global stage.

“This festival showcases our collective pride, unity, and cultural strength. We will not allow any hoodlums or miscreants to disrupt this landmark event,” he affirmed.

He also expressed appreciation to corporate sponsors and stakeholders for their continuous support, noting that such partnerships reflected shared values of inclusiveness, cultural pride, and national development.

The festival will feature colourful regalia, age-grade (Regberegbe) processions, equestrian displays, and spirited cultural celebrations.

Source: NAN

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Notifying Oladunjoye of the award of the chieftaincy title in a letter dated May 2, 2024 and personally signed by the 90 years old monarch, who has spent  64 years on the throne as the Awujale, the highly revered first-class traditional ruler said: “By Ijebu ancient tradition and custom, and the prerogative of the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, we honour our sons and daughters who have distinguished themselves within our cherished society in character, in their fields of endeavour, and made enormous contributions to the economic and social well-being of our people with chieftaincy titles. In other words, we confer chieftaincy titles to celebrate excellence, distinction and nobility.”

The letter reads further: “For some time now, the palace has been observing with satisfaction and pride your professionalism and willingness to serve without counting the cost. Your industry, patriotism, loyalty, excellence and uncommon contributions to Ijebuland are unassailable and worthy of commendation. As a media practitioner, you have used the instrumentality and power of the media to project the throne of Awujale, and as a weapon against discord and disunity in our society.  You have consequently become a champion of democracy and a thoroughbred Ijebu. For these and many other reasons, it is my pleasure to confer on your good self, the title of ONIGEGEWURA OF IJEBU with all the rights, honours, privileges and responsibilities appertaining thereto. Please accept my hearty congratulations.”

Earlier, in recognition of his commendable service to Ijebuland, the Awujale had in 2016 endorsement personally written the following words on the 2016 brochure of the Ojude Oba, which was produced by Oladunjoye’s company, Tunes Communications,  free of charge, , “Tunde Oladunjoye: With grateful thanks and deep appreciation for your contributions towards a very successful hosting of 2016 Ojude-Oba Festival”.

Oladunjoye is the Publisher of Tunes Magazine, a development focused magazine.

He is a member of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ.

He is also a member of the Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, and was at a time, the Auditor of the Lagos Branch of ANA.

Oladunjoye, a former National Publicity Secretary of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, CDHR, was the Assistant Publicity Secretary of the Directorate of Strategic Communications of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Campaign Council for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and was also a member of the publicity committee of the APC presidential primary.

He is the Ogun State Publicity Secretary as well as the current Coordinator of South-West Publicity Secretaries of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

With a bias for arts, social policy, politics, human rights reporting and media advocacy, Oladunjoye, for several years, covered the biggest film festival in the world, the Cannes Film Festival, Cannes, France.

He also covered many high ranking international events like the Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO) in Burkina Faso, the Nigeria’s Eminent Persons Agricultural Summit hosted in Geneva by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2013 and the World Hunger Summit hosted by the United Kingdom Prime Minister in 2013.

He was media consultant and member of the presidential delegation to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland in 2013.

He was appointed by the federal government into the strategic media communication committee of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) in 2012 and later as Media Adviser to the then Minister for Agriculture, Dr.  Akinwumi Adesina, between 2012 and 2014, before taking up another appointment as national media consultant to the FGN/ World Bank project on FADAMA III Additional Financing between 2016 and 2018.

A published poet, Oladunjoye edited Activist Poets: An Anthology of Nigerian Pro-Democracy Activists, published in 2002 with the support of the French Government through the French Cultural Centre, Ikoyi, Lagos.

He has been a resource person to UNESCO and peer reviewer with the World Bank.

Oladunjoye was also resident journalist with the House of Journalism, Lome, Togo (2001), visiting journalist to Nigeria’s Permanent Delegation to UNESCO, Paris, France, in 2005 under the leadership of Emeritus Professor Michael Omolewa.

READ ALSO: Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona: An epitome of honour and dignity

He was a UNICEF Scholar to South Africa in 2014 to study Design and Implementation of Social Protection in Africa.

Oladunjoye served as board member, Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation 2005; member, Governing Council of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) 2016-2017;  chairman, Ogun State Television (OGTV) 2020-2023,  member, Governing Council, Federal Polytechnic, Ukanna, Akwa Ibom State and member Ogun State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board 2019-2022.

He was named United Nations Youth Ambassador for World Peace in 2008.

A journalist, activist, author, community leader, poet, publisher and politician, Oladunjoye has been a multiple award winner even right from his days as a student at the foremost journalism training school in Nigeria, the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, NIJ, Ogba-Ikeja, Lagos.

The Students Union of both the Ibadan and Ogba campuses of the institute honoured him with awards of Excellence.

As Council Chairman in Ijebu East Local Government (2007-2010), Ogun State, he was named the Overall Best Chairman in Ogun State for 2008 and 2009 becoming the first and only chairman till date, to win the coveted award back to back.

He was later announced as the Best Council Chairman in South West Nigeria, while his score was the highest among others so nominated in the six geopolitical zones.

In his reaction on being informed of the Awujale’s honour, Oladunjoye remarked: “This is the best! I have called Baba (Awujale)  to thank him. I am most grateful. This is a chieftaincy title that money cannot buy”.

Oladunjoye has since accepted the honour of Onigegewura of Ijebuland, describing it as a rare privilege.

His letter of acceptance titled “Mo dupe dupe” and dated May 4, 2024 reads: “It is with the greatest, heartfelt-appreciation and in all humility, that I wholeheartedly and unreservedly accept the great honour that you have graciously bestowed on me as the ONIGEGEWURA OF IJEBU.

Alayeluwa, like I told you over the phone, immediately  I got wind of the honour; this is a title that money cannot buy. I feel so happy and extremely honoured and even overwhelmed by your constant show of  uncommon and unconditional love to me over the years. It has been a rare privilege for me.

“I accept the chieftaincy title of ONIGEGEWURA OF IJEBU without any reservations whatsoever. Kabiyesi, please accept my sincere appreciation on behalf of my family.

“May the good Lord continue to honour you and your family ceaselessly and boundlessly.

“Most grateful my father and my King!”

The installation ceremony will be announced by the palace in due course.

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It gives me immense joy to celebrate the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, HRH Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, on this special occasion of his 90th birthday. It is indeed delightful that Kabiyesi has attained this important age and he still continues to discharge his duty as the paramount ruler of the entire Ijebuland.

Oba Adetona is not just another traditional ruler in Yorubaland and indeed in Nigeria and Africa, he is a preeminent royal father who has brought rare honour, integrity, dignity, courage and impeccable strength of character to the throne over the last 60 years.

Within this period, he has seen the low and high points of our country. During the turbulent and dark days of military dictatorship when it was difficult to speak truth to power, Oba Adetona displayed uncommon courage and stood on the side of the people. Against billows and tides, truth became his refuge.

Kabiyesi can look back, with gratitude to the Almighty God and take pride in the phenomenal progress Ijebuland has witnessed under his peaceful reign. Among monarchs, he continues to command respect and admiration. More important, he has seen his kingdom and people flourish in leaps and bounds during his reign.

Now that he has joined the prestigious Club of Nonagenarians, I can only wish him more years in good health on the throne of his forebears.

I have always enjoyed the trust, friendship and confidence of Kabiyesi Awujale Ogbagba ll in the course of my political journey, through the struggles of our fight for the return of democratic governance in our country and beyond my tenure as Governor of Lagos State. Throughout these epochs in my political odyssey, Oba Adetona has remained a pillar of strength and support. In matters of fighting for justice, fairness, equity and a more just society where every part of our country can progress and our people live peacefully and in harmony with each other, Kabiyesi has been a dependable ally.

As my confidant, I have absolute faith and trust in Awujale and I have benefitted from his wise counsel over the years.

When I set out to seek the highest office in our country, I began my nationwide consultation from his palace in 2022. In keeping faith with my promise, I returned in June last year to pay homage and express my gratitude.

Kabiyesi has fought for and invested heavily in democracy and good governance and to cap it all, he endowed a chair in that discipline at the Olabisi Onabanjo  University, Ago Iwoye, in Ogun State,  where he built a School of Post-Graduate and Research Studies in Governance.

Oba Adetona has earned his stripes as a forward-looking and venerable royal father not just in Yorubaland but across the world. He is one of the longest reigning monarchs in the world with over six decades on the throne.

Kabiyesi has lived well and served well. We will continue to honour his service to humanity and commitment to duty.

Now that he has joined the prestigious Club of Nonagenarians, I can only wish him more years in good health on the throne of his forebears.

Happy birthday Kabiyesi.

*Bola Ahmed Tinubu is President, Federal Republic of Nigeria

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He said Prof. Olukotun who he described as a friend was a public intellectual who made useful contributions to national development through regular interventions in public discourse.

According to him, the late professor would be missed particularly at this time when his deep knowledge and political experience was needed as the nation approached a new dawn.

In a statement by his Media Office signed by Mr. Tunde Rahman, the APC presidential candidate said: “The news of the passing on Wednesday of erudite scholar and fine columnist, Prof. Ayo Olukotun, is shocking and saddening. Coming at the start of the new year, it leaves a bitter taste in the mouth. Prof. Olukotun made invaluable contributions to public discourse and helped shape public opinion and policy through his regular interventions via his newspaper columns.

“His deep, incisive and penetrating columns won him plaudits. Prof. Olukotun was a friend I first encountered as a writer and journalist before becoming a university don. His writings initially at the Daily Times, Guardian and in later days on the Back Page of The Punch every Friday was a go to for me.

“On those pages, he not only gave constructive dissection of public policies, issues and developments but also offered ideas that can engender redemption.

“I commiserate with his family and pray that God Almighty comfort them over this unfortunate passing.

I mourn with his colleagues in the academia and media profession. This death rankles all of us.

“My condolences must also go to Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, and the people of the state  and of course to the Awujale of Ijebuland, HRH Oba Sikiru Adetona for the late scholar was the Oba Sikiru Kayide Adetona Professorial Chair in Governance, Department of Political Science, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State.

“May his soul Rest In Peace.”

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