The 2025 Ojude Oba Festival, held on Sunday in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, was graced by eminent Nigerians, including the minister of arts, culture, tourism and creative economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, and Governor Dapo Abiodun, who commended the festival organisers and main sponsor, Globacom, for making it a global tourist destination.
This year’s colourful ceremony witnessed a huge turnout of tourists and art enthusiasts, most of whom came to the town owing to the repute that had preceded the event.
Globacom, major sponsor of Ojude Oba, added excitement to the day as it gave out brand new cars to two winners – one an outstanding member of the Ijebu community and another who got lucky in the special 20th Glo sponsorship anniversary consumer promo organised exclusively for Ijebuland.
Mr Opeoluwa Osisanwo, who won the outstanding leadership prize, incidentally felt dizzy moments before his prize was announced, owing to days of exhaustion from activities preceding the festival.
Opeoluwa, secretary of the festival planning committee, was one of the two committee members who were at Ogun State Television on Thursday for a special commemorative interview about the event. He was revived and led away from the pavilion for fresh air, but had to be stealthily led back after a few minutes to behold his surprise moment of honour.
A member of Egbe Tobalase Okunrin, Opeoluwa, was adjudged the most outstanding young leader in Ijebuland who has served the community diligently for years as secretary of the Ojude Oba Festival Planning Committee.
He said, “I never knew people were watching me. I was just serving my land of birth to the best of my ability.” He expressed appreciation to the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, and all committee members “for allowing me to work with them, not minding the fact that I am the youngest among them.”
The second winner, Mrs Idowu Olabisi, a trader based in Ijebu Igbo, could not believe her eyes when she got the keys to the sleek Suzuki Celerio car that had just become hers. She disclosed that Globacom gave her a spectacular gift at Eid, as she had no inkling that she would get such a car now.
In addition to the cars, four tricycles (Keke) were won by other subscribers from within and around Ijebu. They were Hassan Toheeb, a businessman based in Ijebu Itele; Adenike Olanrewaju, a Plank seller at Molipa, Ijebu Ode; Gazal Temitope, a trader who resides at Olisa, Ijebu Ode; and Lawal Tosin, a carpenter in Ijebu Ode.
Five other subscribers won power generating sets while 10 customers went home with brand new grinding machines.
The ceremony was also witnessed by Olorogun Sunny Kuku, the Ogbeni Oja of Ijebuland, former governors Olusegun Osoba and Gbenga Daniel, notable captains of industry of Ijebu descent, and their friends from all over the world.
In addition to the flowery costumes adorned by the near 100 different Regberegbe groups, which displayed different dance skills as they paid homage to the nonagenarian monarch, who was represented by his Olori Kemi Adetona, prominent Eleshin families also showed mastery of their horses as they all appeared in war costumes reminiscent of their progenitors’ histories of valour.
The governor had, in his goodwill message at the event, extolled the 65th royal anniversary of the Awujale as that of “purposeful leadership, progressive vision and unwavering commitment to the upliftment of Ijebuland and the entire Ogun State”, while Barrister Musawa, described the festival as a shinning testament of the “richness of our cultural diversity and the resilience of our traditional institutions in preserving history for future generations.”
Globacom also celebrated its 20th consecutive sponsorship anniversary by giving specially packaged Basmati rice to all members of the various Regberegbes in appreciation of their support of the brand and the monarch.
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