•Details Of The 2 Day Event In LAGOS
What started as a regular traditional marriage between Taiwo Ariyibi and Damilola Ojo on Friday, October 29, 2021 ended up becoming a big party, thanks to the influence of the bride’s father, Akogun Stephen Abiodun Ojo. It was indeed a classy 2-day celebration that had all the big-wigs on the social scene in attendance.
The wedding ceremony proper was another talk of the town party. It held at the St Charles Borromeo Church, 1004 Estate, V.I.; while the reception party took place at the prestigious Lekki Coliseum, Lagos.
The event practically brought all the big names from Ilupeju Ekiti, the hometown of the bride’s father together. That is not to say that the groom’s families are not noticeable. The Ariyibis also made huge statements. They are well to do and also spent big for their son’s wedding. City People further gathered that Taiwo, the groom is not even based in Nigeria.
City People’s Brands Editor DAMILARE SALAMI 08155134152 and photojournalist, Sunday Aderiye were there and in this report, they bring you all the details of the party, enjoy.
ENGAGEMENT CEREMONY TURNED OWAMBE
The day started with all the vibes for a classy engagement ceremony but many were not expecting that it will be taken a step further. It became obvious to everyone when Sir Micky Band and his boys took over the stage. The party would have gone for a standard wedding party but alas, that was just the tip of the iceberg. It was merely the traditional marriage. The big day was slated for the next day.
TOPMOST NAIJA TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE COMPERE, ILEOKOYA ANCHORED EVENT
Pretty and well vast traditional marriage anchor, Abimbola Akinwunmi who is popularly known as Ileokoya is a big brand when it comes to traditional marriage in Nigeria. She has anchored for many big families and the Ariyibi and Abiodun-Ojo were also numbered amongst those star families. She did well with a touch of class and professionalism. She was joined by another very good brand, Iyawo Ibile headed by Oluwatoyin Akinwale. They both gave the wedding guests an event of a lifetime.
MEET THE NEW COUPLE’S FAMILY
One thing is common with traditional marriage in Yorubaland, the couple is not only joined, the families involved are also united by the bond of marriage. Little wonder the Alaga Iduro and Alaga Ijoko eulogized and practically joined the Kolawole and Ojo family of the bride who hailed from Ilupeju Ekiti and Abeokuta with the Ariyibi and Adesokan families of the groom who hailed from Ilesha in Osun State and Ibadan in Oyo State respectively. Both families had serious synergy and unity; this made it possible for their children to have a groundbreaking wedding ceremony on both days.
THE COUPLE’S PARENTS/REPS STUN IN BEAUTIFUL ATTIRES
Everyone at the event would have noticed that some four people looked extremely stunning and better than virtually all the guests. They needed no introduction. The bride’s parents, Akogun Stephen Abiodun and his wife Yeye Yemisi Ojo outshined many people with their green and wine outfits while the grooms family representatives, Mr Kehinde Ariyibi, the groom’s twin brother and Mrs Morenike Akande, the groom’s elder sister appeared in gorgeous white, ash and a touch of red attires. On the second day, their outfits were stunning too. The bride’s parents were dressed in different shades of wine colour while the bride’s parents were in all shades of blue. The more colourful their Aso-Ebi was, the more beautiful the auditorium became.
POPULAR BUSINESSMAN, CHIEF JIMOH IBRAHIM CHAIRS EVENT
Jimoh Ibrahim a popular lawyer, politician, businessman and philanthropist is not a rare face on the social scene. He is the Chairman and chief executive officer of Global Fleet Group, a diversified conglomerate based in Nigeria, with business interests and subsidiaries in neighbouring West African countries. He was the chairman of the day but he had been spotted from the engagement party where he displayed so much affluence.
City People gathered that he is a close friend of Akogun Stephen Ojo and that they have been friends for more than three decades. The way and manner in which Chief Jimoh Ibrahim participated at the event showed that he is indeed very close to the parents of the new couple. Queen Ayo Balogun and her band also benefitted from his good heart. He sprayed the band well while they sang his praise.
While performing the chairman’s duty, Chief Jimoh Ibrahim encouraged the new couple to avoid third party influences in their marriage because it is the easiest way to tear their bond apart.
ROYAL FATHERS CAME TO BLESS THE COUPLE
What makes an event classy is not the number of people in attendance but their social class. Top royal fathers came through for Damilola and Taiwo. The first to be spotted at the engagement party and the wedding proper was Oba Owa-Atapa of Itapa Ekiti, David Makanjuola Ajaja PhD. The Apeju of Ilupeju Ekiti ably represented by Olori Comfort Ayodele, the Olomu of Ekiti amongst many other high ranking chiefs.
AT THE CHURCH WEDDING
The St Charles Borromeo Catholic Church inside 1004 Estate in Victoria Island, Lagos held a superb mass in celebration of two love birds, Damilola and Taiwo. With the fear of COVID-19 still ravaging societies, the church ensured that all COVID-19 protocols were strictly observed. The auditorium only occupied the people that came on time before the door was shut and Rev. Fr. Alexander Oboh, the officiating priest wasted no time in doing the needful, joining the couple, blessing them and serving the communion as required.
MEET THE CHURCH WEDDING SPONSORS
Mr and Mrs Tony Ubogu were the wedding sponsors. They ensured that everything was in order at the church. This beautiful couple had been married for more than 20 years. Rev. Fr. Oboh further encouraged them not to leave the new couple, he said they had to keep encouraging Taiwo and Damilola and had to keep praying for them so that their marriage can work and that they may enjoy bliss just like their sponsors.
St Charles Borromeo Catholic Church choir was on point. It delivered so well when it was needed. The choir led different sonorous and soul lifting songs during the mass. Worthy of note was also the soloist, Sodeinye O’Mailey who did a great job with his music.
LEKKI COLISEUM COMPLETELY TRANSFORMED
The Lekki Coliseum event centre was completely transformed for Damilola and Taiwo, all thanks to the event decorator who did a great job. The ground floor of Lekki Coliseum received the guests of this couple. It was indeed a worthy venue. Firstly, there was no challenge with the parking lot, there was more than enough space for all the guests. Secondly, the venue didn’t give room for touts or street urchins who invade party venues to extort guests or even rip them off their goodies.
QUEEN AYO BALOGUN THRILLED
Trust Queen Ayo Balogun to deliver when it mattered most; she came to the event with a full band and ready to groove and make the guests dance and she did just that. She serenaded the guests and celebrants so much that even the compere alluded to the fact that she is one of the best in her trade. Queen Ayo Balogun is an iconic juju singer and the first woman to become the president of the Association of Juju Musicians of Nigeria (AJUMN). She runs a 30-man band named Ayo Balogun and Harmonic Voices. They gave the guests maximum entertainment with pure and undiluted juju vibes that raised the roof of the Lekki Coliseum event centre. Another side attraction was when the big boys took over the stage. Queen Ayo didn’t let them down. She obviously knew their desired songs and delivered them one after the other. The guests enjoyed it all.
COUPLE’S GRAND ENTRY
One of the biggest moments at the event was the couple’s entry. It was lit! the couple’s train was so long that it took a while before the wedding guests could lay their eyes on the man and woman of the moment. Damilola and Taiwo are both great dancers and that made a huge difference. They took their time to dance their way down the aisle. There was enough time for all the paparazzi and the couple enjoyed every bit of it.
OTUNBA GBOYEGA LAWAL, MC JACKY ANCHORED RECEPTION
Only classy wedding parties have more than one MC as anchor and Oluwadamilola and Taiwo’s wedding reception is named among such classy parties. It started with having popular Ibadan radio host, Otunba Gboyega Lawal the microphone. Trust the veteran broadcaster to give you a show of a lifetime, he did so well. And unexpectedly, MC Jacky also appeared on the scene. They both combined well to satisfy the diverse audience at the party. While Otunba Gboyega Lawal appealed to the older folks, MC Jacky was doing his thing for the younger generation. Trust me, it was a perfect blend.
ISLAND CLUB MEMBERS MAKE STATEMENT
When we described Akogun Stephen Abiodun Ojo as a top socialite, we weren’t just making him feel good, he is one indeed. He is a member of the Island Club of Lagos and those who know this club would affirm that it’s not a place for the small players. It is strictly for big men, one of which Akogun is numbered. They proved their worth by spraying the couple and the musician of the day. Many people at the event wished they were members of this prestigious club.
The Island Club is one of the oldest multinational clubs in Nigeria. Established on Friday, October 29, 1943, in Lagos Island, the club began as a cosmopolitan club comprising members of different nationalities, races, religions and political orientations.
HIP-HOP ACT, SKUKI PERFORMED TOO
Skuki is a name that is well recognized in the Nigerian hip-hop world. He came to the limelight when he dropped his single, Banger which enjoyed so much aiplays and acceptability. He is also a very close friend of the groom. He was invited to perform and he dug up old memories for most of the wedding guests. Many sang along with him while he dropped his banger trademark and other songs too.
UP ASSO MEMBERS PRESENT GIFT TO NEW COUPLE
Akogun Stephen Ojo is also a member of the Association of Friends, popularly known as UpAsso. They also came to the wedding party en masse and left a mark in the lives of the new couple. At the event, they presented a huge cash gift which they referred to as a ‘token’ to the new couple. While presenting the gift, the Association of Friends members encouraged Damilola and Taiwo to invest the gift so that they would multiply it in the nearest future.
ROLL CALL
Present at the event was Sir Bennet Onwubalili, Otunba Dolapo Balogun, Otunba Sesan Ayeni, Otunba Ladi Owolabi, Engr Sanya, Alhaji Ropo Owolabi (Owo Blow), Chief Akintunde Ayeni (Oko Oloyun), and many more.
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