What The 2018 Planning Committee Chairman, Otunba Osinusi RSaid
Otunba Barrister Wahab Osinusi is a big name in Ijebu-Ode. He is a reputable lawyer of many years standing. He is the owner of the popular WACUS Hotel. And he is one of Awujale of Ijebu’s high chiefs. He is an Otunba. He is the Otunba Fidipote of Ijebu. He is the head of the Fidipote Royal Family in Ijebu-Ode. He is the Chairman of the Council of Otunbas of Ijebu. He is also the Chairman of the Planning Committee of the Ojude Oba Festival. He is from the popular Osinusi family in Ijebu-Ode. On Monday 6th August 2018 at the Palace of Awujale, he revealed what to expect at this years Ojude Oba. Below is his speech at the press conference.
On behalf of Alaiyeluwa, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona, CFR, J.P, Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland and the good people of Ijebu, the Ojude Oba Festival Committee welcomes you to the 2018 World Press Conference. The whole essence of this Conference is to brief you on the arrangement for the 2018 edition of the Annual Ojude Oba Festival. We thank God for granting everyone of you journey mercies to this media event.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
The Annual Ojude Oba Festival is a spectacular celebration that is synonymous with the Ijebu which has been in existence for over two centuries. The festival is unique and spectacular to the Ijebu of South-West Nigeria. Although this Festival had its origin in Islam, it is now being celebrated by all and sundry, that is, Muslims, Christians, Traditionalists and Non-Believers. The Ojude Oba Festival is indeed a classic example and manifestation of religious tolerance. History has it that when Islam made incursion into ljebuland, the reigning monarch prevailed on his subjects to give those professing the new religion the latitude to operate according to the dictates of their conscience. In other words, there should be no war nor rancour. Basking on this clement environment, the emerging Moslem community after observing the Eid-el-Kabir (the Greater Beiram), which included the exchange of gifts and the slaughtering of the sacrificial rams on the third day, they (the Muslims, their leaders and the new converts}paid homage to the reigning monarch and thanked him for his kindness, accommodation and the religious liberty he gave them.
As time went by, this tradition metamorphosed into what is now known as Ojude Oba Festival and has been embraced not only by ljebu at home and in the Diaspora, but also by millions of people within and outside Nigeria. The festival is indeed the gift of the Ijebu nation to Nigeria and the rest of the world being a unique case study in religious tolerance and harmony.
The present monarch, Alaiyeluwa, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona, CFR, J.P, who has been on the throne since January 1960 has succeeded in giobalising, repackaging and rebranding the festival. Some years ago, it was discovered that the forecourt and lawns of the main palace were getting inadequate for the hosting of the tumultuous annual guests, tourists, age grades, Balogun Eleshin (traditional war lords and the horse riders), their followers and the crowd. After securing the land of the defunct Public Works Department, directly opposite the Aafin Awujale, Oba (Dr.) S. K. Adetona, CFR, LP, mobilised his subjects and their friends to construct in record time, a multi-billion naira monumental edifice now christened Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona Golden Jubilee Centre. The centre boasts of unique facilities comparable to any other similar centre in the world. The centre also houses the ijebu National Museum which is open to the public. We encourage you to visit the museum before you leave Ijebu Ode.
The Festival is not only all about equestrian display, parade of culture and tradition, merry making and funfair. It provides the Ijebu nation the opportunity to supplicate to the Almighty God, take stock, embark on self-help projects, and reunite with family members and acquaintances. The festival also boosts commerce and trade in its entirety as commercial and trading activities are at their peak before, during and after the Festival. The Festival touches every spectrum of life in Ijebuland. All the facilities (hotels, restaurants, etc.), artisans, craftsmen, transporters, professionals, market men and women, among others are fully engaged with several socio-economic multiplier effects. The grand finale of the 2018 edition will hold on either Thursday, 23 or Friday, 24 August, 2018 that is, two days after the Eid-el-Kabir Festival (Greater Beiram).
THEME OF THE 2018 EDIT!ON
The theme chosen the for 2018 edition based on our desideratum is: OJUDE OBA: Celebration OF RICH CULTURAL HERITAGE.
Ojude Oba festival is our cultural heritage and it is our gift to the nation that is constantly in search of religious peace and harmony, and socio-economic development. We are convinced that the Ijebu model is worth bequeathing to the nation.
THE AGE GRADES (REG BE REG BE) ON PARADE:
Since time immemorial, the Age Grade system was the focal of development and socialisation in Ijebuland. The Age Grade system of Ijebuland has now been rejuvenated and rejigged in the last three decades by the reigning monarch, Oba (Dr.) S. K. Adetona, CFR, LP, Ogbagba II, Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland.
This year, about 47 Male and Female Age Grades will be on parade. The first in each category is awarded a Gold-plated cup and cash prize, while the first runner-up and second runner-up in both categories are awarded cash prizes by the main corporate sponsor, Globacom.
THE BALOGUN/ELESHIN (WARLORDS & HORSE RIDERS) ON EQUESTRIAN PARADE:
We expect that about 20 various family warlords will be putting their horse riding prowess on display as it is characteristics of them every year. They are expected to file in for the equestrian display in an organised manner with the Osi Balogun, Otun Balogun and Balogun families taking the rear.
Globacom, the major sponsor for the festival will also be awarding prizes to the first, first runner-up and second runner-up of family warlords.
2018 SPECIAL GUEST OF HONOUR
The Special Guest of Honour for the 2018 Ojude Oba Festival is Senator (Dr.) Bukola Saraki, CON, Wazirin lIorin. He is the President of the 8th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He is currently serving a second term as Senator representing Kwara Central in the National Assembly of Nigeria after earlier serving as two terms Governor of Kwara State.
SPONSORS
Ojude Oba Festival has been attracting a sizeable number of sponsors over the years. These sponsors include Globacom (the main sponsor), First City Monument Bank PLC., Ogun State Government, Nigeria Breweries Plc. (GOLDBERG BEER), Julius Berger Nigeria PLC., WEMPCO Group, Yinka Folawiyo Group of Companies, Ratcon Construction Company Limited, 7up Bottling Company, Rite Foods Limited, and Epic Quarry. We also have many organisations and individuals as Advertisers.
GLOBACOM
Precisely on August 29, fifteen years ago, the seed of the company that is today widely known as the grand masters of data, Globacom, was sown by Dr. Mike Adenuga, Jr. (GCON, CSG, CLH).
Since then, the company has grown in leaps and bounds. Recently, Globacom was adjudged as the fourth most admired brand on the African continent. This honour is a fitting testament to the giant strides recorded by the company.
First in innovation and first in technology, Globacom which started innovatively with Per Seconds Billing, widely believed to be impossible then quickly followed by crashing the cost of GSM SIM and tariff from N20,OOO and NSO per minute respectively to as low as N200 and 5 kobo per second, thus boosting telephone penetration in the country. The company also pioneered revolutionary products like Blackberry, GPRS, Vehicle tracking, mobile internet, mobile banking, Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), in-flight roaming services, Voice SMS, Magic Plus and Text2email among others.
Glo’s extensive optical fibre network, powered by a managed IP MPLS, network, covers the farthest parts of the country giving businesses in over 130 cities low latency, faster connectivity and expanded bandwidth to carry voice, video and data reliably. This makes Globacom a partner of choice for organisations seeking to connect their branches or link up via optical fibre with any organisation within or outside Nigeria.
Based on its National Optic Fibre coverage, Globacom’s Global Multi-Protocol Label Switching (GMPLS) service provides scalable virtual private networks (VPNs) and end-to-end quality ofservice (QoS), enabling efficient utilisation of provisional networks to meet future growth and rapid fault correction of link and node failure.
Globacom is the only operator with a wholly-owned submarine cable, Glo-1, linking Europe and America to West Africa, ensuring the availability of bandwidth to enterprise customers in West Africa. The 9,800km-long cable has landing points in Lagos, Nigeria; Accra, Ghana; Senegal; Nouakchott, Mauritania; Casablanca, Morocco; Sesimbra, Portugal; Vigo, Spain and Bude in , England. Glo-1 delivers a much faster and robust connectivity for voice, data and video. It unleashes, limitless opportunities for corporate bodies in Nigeria and West Africa.
Globacom has not relented. Some of the most imaginative offerings have been made by the company on the back of its expansive infrastructure. Glo’s extensive optical fibre network, powered by a managed IP MPLS network, covers the farthest parts of the country, giving businesses in over 130 cities low latency, faster connectivity and expanded bandwidth to carry voice, video and data reliably. This makes Globacom a partner of choice for organisations seeking to connect their branches or link up via optical fibre with any organisation within or outside Nigeria.
Globacom also provides a range of data connectivity solutions ranging from simple mobile broadband products to complex managed networking IT solutions. The company delivers the connectivity needs of large wholesale carriers and medium to large businesses in Nigeria and West Africa.
Globacom was also the first to accomplish a nationwide launch of 4G-LTE network in Nigeria in 2016. Only recently, the company scored another first by introducing the novel concept of creating a dedicated path in its 4G LTE network for enterprise customers. This aligns with the company’s promise of delivering best-in-class solutions to its corporate clientele to enable them optimise efficiency.       .
In the same vein, the company is currently embarking on laying Glo 2, the first submarine cable in Nigeria to terminate outside Lagos. This holds significant promise for taking bandwidth beyond Lagos to other parts of the country, especially the oil platforms and under-served communities in the southern parts of Nigeria.
As customary, A-list artistes have been lined up to entertain at an international musical show complemented by the Miss. Ojude Oba Festival pageant. The Glo/Ojude Oba partnership is in tandem with the philosophy of supporting traditional institutions and cultures to preserve their heritage and mores. This year, a raffle draw has been added to the bouquet of goodies and the star prize is a brand new car.
OGUN STATE GOVERNMENT
We appreciate the undying support of the administration of Governor Ibikunle Amosun, CON, FCA, who has been a pillar of support in the projection of Ojude Oba Festivals to the outside world. Through the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, His Excellency Governor, Ibikunle Amosun has been giving enormous support to the Festival. Since coming into office, Governor Amosun has never missed attending any edition. The heavy presence of the Governor and his team at every edition resonates every year. Indeed, the participation of the State Government at today’s Press Conference is an eloquent testimony of the importance Ogun State Government attaches to the Festival.
FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANI{PLC
This Bank of our people is a member of FCMB Group Plc., which is one of the leading financial services’ institutions in Nigeria with subsidiaries that are market leaders in. their respective segments. Having successfully transformed to a retail and commercial banking-led group, FCMB expects to continue to distinguish itself by delivering exceptional services, while enhancing the growth and achievement of personal and business aspirations through the offering of innovative, convenient and helpful products and services.
FCMB has been a major supporter of Ojude Oba Festival for more than a decade and is indeed proud to be associated with the festival. FCMB believes that the festival has been a major unifying factor for the great people of Ijebuland for over a century and that it is an avenue for promoting a rich African cultural heritage to the global stage.
FCMB has been particularly content and committed to the longevity of the Festival, realising that globalisation and social transformation, though essential, could also become a threat to the cultural identity of a people through cultural imperialism, if the culture and traditions of the people are not held sacrosanct. The Bank recognises that respect for our heritage is an important catalyst for cultural diversity and a guarantee for sustainable development.
For FCMB, the Ojude Oba Festival is a major platform through which it carries out its Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives with a key focus on economic empowerment. The annual display of our rich cultutal heritage via the Festival attracts tourists from across the globe and Ijebu indigenes in the Diaspora, boosting trade and the hospitality sector in the region. The event remains a unique platform for locals to promote their wares to a broad range of visitors thus promoting economic growth and stability. FCMB’s 2018 outing would be anchored on the foregoing.
NIGERIAN BREWERIES (GOLDBERG BEER)
This is one of the products of the Nigerian Breweries PLC. Goldberg beer is making its sixth appearance as an associate sponsor and the company hopes its partnership would continue to be enduring and mutually beneficial. We have been authoritatively informed that the Company will be putting together as usual, a Goldberg Beer Village in Ijebu-Ode from Tuesday, 14th August 2018 until the end of the Festival for relaxation and music carnival.
We seize the opportunity to express our profound gratitude to companies and individuals that have placed adverts and goodwill messages in the Commemorative Brochure of the 2018 Ojude Oba Festival.
SECURITY AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
We appreciate the importance of security and traffic management as a critical success factor. consequently, we are leaving no stone unturned in our efforts to ensure a hitch-free Festival this year as always. Since we cannot be discussing the details in public, please be informed that all Security agencies are working assiduously to ensure adequate security of lives and property before, during and after the festival.
We also appreciate the efforts of the Ijebu Ode Local Government, in conjunction with the Ogun State Ministry of Environment for general cleanliness of the town. Efforts of the Ogun State Government in the swift coordination and monitoring of the Security Agencies is indeed worthy of commendation.
MOBILISATION AND SENSITISATION
The Ojude Oba Festival Committee has been holding regular consultative meetings with various stakeholders and the various ethnic groups in Ijebu-Ode, to ensure adequate mobilization and sensitisation of our people. It is salutary to report that we are making tremendous progress in this regard.
HEALTH AND MEDICAL
To cope with health and medical exigencies, we are partnering with the Ogun State Ministry of Health and its agencies, and some Non-Governmental Organisations to put their facilities at the disposal of the Festival Committee throughout the duration of the festival.
THE FESTIVAL ORGANISING COMMITTEE
The composition of the Festival Organising Committee is as follows: Otunba Wahab o. Osinusi (Otunba Fidipote of Ijebu), Chairman; Chief Olu B. Okuboyejo (Obasewa of Ijebu), Vice-Chairman; Chief (Mrs.) Bisi Osibogun (Omeso of Ijebu), Member; Giwa M. A. Odutayo (President, Ijebu Regberegbe Council), Member; Giwa (Chief) M. A. Oreagba (Maiyegun of Ijebu), Member; Chief (Dr.) Fassy Yusuf (Baagbimo of Ijebu), Coordinator; Chief Agboola Alausa (Balogun of Ijebu-Ode), Member; Chief Alade Shote (Otun Balogun of Ijebu-Ode), Member; Gunte (Alhaji) Kamorudeen Olatunde Alaga, Director of Programme; and Mr. Ope Osisanwo, Assistant Secretary.
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