Business mogul and Chairman of Africa’s Next Generation Network, Globacom, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr. (GCON), has disclosed that his company is committed to the entrenchment of the cultures and traditions of Nigeria through the sponsorship of key festivals across the nation.
Adenuga, who said this at the celebration of this year’s Ojude Oba Festival in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State on Saturday, declared further that Globacom had shown interest in the festival because its socio-cultural value complements his company’s vision to celebrate the unique heritage of Nigeria.
The theme of the celebration is Harnessing our Cultural Heritage for Economic Development.
According to the multi-billionaire businessman extraordinaire, Ojude Oba is a social melting pot where the sons and daughters of Ijebuland at home and the Diaspora congregate to celebrate and participate in the communal drive to transform Ijebuland.
“Globacom notes the selfless and avowed determination of Ijebu people to contribute to the holistic development of Ijebuland and wish to assure not only the Ijebus but all Nigerians that we will always cherish and support initiatives that promote our cultural values”, he said.
He added that collaborations like the sponsorship of Ojude Oba festival signpost the commitment of Globacom to the promotion of Nigerian culture as a veritable tool to energize the people for growth and development. He expressed delight that Ojude Oba has become a tourist’s delight which attracts people not only from other parts of the nation but also from the Diaspora. “We are proud to note that Ojude Oba has assumed the status of a world-class event,” he said.
Globacom, it will be recalled, has been the festival’s main sponsor since 2005.
Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon. Seriake Dickson, a special guest at the event, showered encomiums on Adenuga for not only sponsoring the Ojude Oba Festival for the tenth year running, but also for ‘doing a great job’ in the telecoms industry in Nigeria.
Dickson who said this while presenting a cheque to the best age grade at the celebrations, eulogised Globacom for its concerted efforts to make its services and products affordable and accessible in Nigeria as well as other countries where the company operates.
Similarly, Senator (Mrs.) Daisy Danjuma, Vice Chairman, South Atlantic Petroleum, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the occasion, praised Globacom for its support for culture and tradition, exhibited through the company’s sponsorship of cultural events across the nation.
In his remark, the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, described Adenuga as a Nigerian who has put the nation on the world map as a result of his doggedness, industry and business integrity.
Said he: “Through Adenuga, thousands of jobless people now have means of sustenance. He has greatly enhanced the economy of the nation through his business ventures which have grown and extended to other parts of the world. Globacom has, through its innovative technological edge, become the leader in the telecoms market in Nigeria and since Globacom undertook to be the main sponsor of the festival, we have been going up and up, better and better.”
The company’s sponsorship of the event has raised it to an enviable tourists’ delight which attracts people from all walks of life and from other parts of the country, the Monarch added.
Oba Adetona added that the Ijebu people are proud of their roots and cultural heritage, positing that they would not relent in making significant contributions to Nigeria’s socio-economic and political development. He asked those holding political offices to fulfil their electoral promises and be accountable to the electorate.
“Nigeria is a land of milk and honey; it’s a land where people can prosper; it’s a place that we can do better, but for the fact that we were long saddled with wrong leadership. But I’m sure things would start to work better,” he said.
At the event, Globacom gave cash prizes to outstanding age groups. While Egbe Bobakeye Obinrin Double T won N500, 000 as best Regberegbe in the female category, Egbe Gbobaniyi Obinrin Olori and Egbe Jagunmolu Obinrin came second and third and went home with N300, 000 and N200, 000 respectively.
In the male category, Egbe Obafuwaji came tops winning N500, 000, while Egbe Jagunmolu Akile and Egbe Obaleke took the second and third positions winning N300, 000 and N200, 000 respectively.
Thousands of gaily dresses Ijebu people and their guests participated at the festival.
