*Wande Coal, Burna Boy to entertain guests
Ijebu Ode, the nexus of social and commercial activities for the Ijebus, goes agog today as the Glo-sponsored 2013 Ojude Oba festival holds in grand style.
A statement from the company disclosed that this year’s Ojude Oba Festival would be memorable and colourful with the A-list artistes including Burna Boy, Wande Coal, Gbenga Adeyinka and others lined up to thrill indigenes at the post-festival musical fiesta.
The organisers of the festival disclosed that the main event begins with the traditional homage to the monarch and the inter group Regberegbe and Balogun competitions at the Oba Sikiru Adetona Pavilion, Ijebu Ode.
They urged all guests to be seated by 8.30am.
Globacom stated that this year’s Ojude Oba Beauty pageant would be glamorous as a large array of beautiful Ijebu girls had shown interest in the competition.
The Ojude Oba Festival, which had its origin in Islam, is now celebrated by all indigenes of Ijebuland, irrespective of religious and political leanings and the festival is used as a rallying point for the development and advancement of Ijebuland.
The theme of this year’s celebration is actualising the creation of Ijebu State and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, and the Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Henry Dickson, are expected as the Special Guests of Honour.
Meanwhile, the National carrier, Globacom, has congratulated the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba (Dr) Sikiru Kayode Adetona and all the good people of Ijebu Ode for witnessing another Ojude Oba Festival.
It promised that the festival would be the best organised ever in Ijebuland with the numerous activities lined up to make the event memorable and colourful.
Globacom’s Marketing Coordinator, Mr Adeniyi Olukoya, stated this on Wednesday at an international press conference held at the Heritage Hall, Awujale Palace, Ijebu Ode to kick start the festival.
He assured that Globacom would partner with the Ojude Oba Festival Committee to make the festival more colourful and interesting, adding that the musical show this year would feature wave making Glo Ambassador, Burna Boy and another top Glo Ambassador who would be unveiled soon while the Miss Ojude Oba beauty pageant would also be staged.
Olukoya said Globacom as an iconic Nigerian company would continue to provide Nigerians with the platform to fulfil their passions while fulfilling the brand promise of providing affordable telecom services to its teeming subscribers.
Earlier, the Coordinator of the Festival, Chief Fassy Yusuf, described the festival, which is about 200 years old, as a
lesson in religious harmony and tolerance and Ijebu’s gift to the world.
He added that the theme of the 2013 Festival is Actualising the creation of Ijebu State.
Also speaking at the conference, the Ogun State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mrs Yewande Amusan, expressed the hope that Ojude Oba Festival would be listed as an Heritage event by UNESCO and assured of the state government’s generous support to the festival.
Speaking in an interview, the Chairman of the Regberegbe Council, Giwa Adebayo Odutayo, commended Globacom for its robust and value, adding support of the Festival in the last seven years and assured of adequate security during the festival.
