…As Iba Gani Adams, Olowu restate commitment to cultural promotion
By Adeyinka Adeniran
Lagos State Government, Akran of Badagry, Oba De-Wheno Aholu and prominent diaspora organizations on Tuesday endorsed Olokun World Festival as a major cultural fiesta in the state.
The endorsements was made at the grand finale of the 2024 edition of Olokun festival held in Badagry, in recognition of the foundation’s efforts at sustaining the festival in the last 22 years.
The annual festival, according to the organizers, attracted over 50,000 participants, with 50 monarchs in attendance from Republic of Benin, Badagry and other parts of the southwest.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer,(CEO) Council for Arts and Culture, Mr. Idowu Johnson, who stood in for the Lagos State commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs.Toke Benson, said it is interesting to note that the Olokun Festival Foundation(OFF) has been sustaining the celebration of the annual festival now for 22 years,adding that the best is to support the foundation by making it a World Festival with global appeal.
“Though, Osun Osogbo festival is celebrated in Osun state, it is very much recognized by UNESCO.
“But we are part of the success story of Osun Osogbo,but today,we are celebrating Olokun Festival’s consistent efforts in promoting the cultural fiesta for 22 years. And that is why we are endorsing the fiesta as Olokun World Festival, as part of the efforts of the Lagos State government to promote culture and tradition in the state.
Akran of Badagry, Oba De-Wheno Aholu Toyi, in his remarks, praised the Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams for transforming the annual fiesta into a global event saying Badagry and Yoruba obas will continue to support any idea or initiative that is tailored towards the ensuring the progress of Yoruba land.
Meanwhile, the royal father of the day, who is also the Olowu of Owu Kuta, Osun state, Oba Adekunle Oyelude Makama, urged all the six governors in the Southwest to support the cultural evangelism crusade embarked upon by the Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland.
The foremost monarch, added that many of the festivals and cultural events celebrated the developed countries are not even bigger and better than what Iba Gani Adams is doing in Yoruba land and Nigeria as a whole.
“It is interesting to tell you all that what we are doing today can be done in a more advanced way and that is why I am appealing to all the Southwest governors and even the Federal Government to support Iba Gani Adams in driving this initiative.
“Yoruba land and Nigeria will be the greatest beneficiaries if we support Adams in pushing Olokun World Festival and other festivals to the global state.
Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, in his speech went down the memory lane, highlighting the spiritual and economic gains of celebrating Olokun festival in the last 22 years in Badagry.
He pointed out that the projection of the organizers of the Olokun World Festival is to locate a permanent site in Badagry, that will be close to the Beach as it was done with the Papaya tourist site in Thailand.
“Olokun Festival has brought more spiritual gains to Badagry. Every year, we learn our voices appealing to Federal Government to complete the Lagos Badagry Express road.
“The road is almost completed now and we can feel the luxury as we ply the road to Badagry.
“Today, Badagry has turned out to be an oil-producing area,with the discovery of crude oil in five locations across the ancient town.
“It was the Jonathan administration that had the vision to locate the largest Sea Port in Africa here in Badagry. The sea port where ships would be repaired. But the project is yet to be executed.
“Untill recently, the number of Obas and traditional rulers in Badagry was six or seven. But the number has increased tremendously since we started celebrating Olokun Festival here in Badagry. Now, we have no fewer than 25 prominent traditional rulers in Badagry.
“It is a big record of success and complete transformation of the traditional institution in Badagry. As we celebrate these milestones, we be unveiling the Olokun World Festival that will catapult us to the global community.
“Today, it is our projection to explore the tourism potentials of Badagry. We intend to build a mini-stadium here in Badagry. It is our plan also to have our permanent site here in Badagry, where we build a world standard hotel near the Olokun-An hotel of global standard with over 300 rooms for accommodations and luxuries as well as three different halls for conferences and even. It will certainly be a replica of Papaya tourism site (Beach) in Thailand. All these are our projections and future plans in Badagry”, Iba Adams stated.
Other prominent Obas that were present at the festival include the Oniladaba of Ladaba Kingdom Oba Nureni Ebudola Odedina Alugbin, the Onirokun of Irokun Kingdom, Oba Buhari Ola Balogun, the Onimapara of Mapara Kingdom Oba Lateef Amodemaja.
Members of the Aareonakakanfo Chiefs in Council, National Executive Council (NEC), National Coordinating Council (NCC) and OPC members were all present from across the country.
