The Ooni of Ife, Arole Oduduwa, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II (CFR) will be leading eminent Yoruba descendants including President-elect, Bola Hammed Tinubu, the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu alongside other dignitaries to the fifth edition of the Annual World Omoluabi Day Festival scheduled to hold in Lagos, Nigeria.
World Omoluabi Day is organized by the Yoruba Council Worldwide(YCW), a global umbrella body for Yoruba socio-cultural groups to celebrate, appreciate and preserve the Yoruba ethos of Omoluabi.
The Global President of the Council, Aare (Barr.) Oladotun Hassan in a statement, noted that this Year’s event, Branded EKOFEST’23 with the theme: Yoruba Indigenization, will hold at the prestigious National Arts Theatre, Iganmu Lagos on Monday, May 1st, 2023 by 11am.
“This event is a global spectacular event aimed at bringing together all Great sons and daughters of Oduduwa globally.
“We have come a long way to realize the importance of unity, peace and development of the Yoruba nationhood in line with the Omoluabi ethos, prestige, honour, wisdom, hard-work and mutual respect.
“Hence, this year’s edition is specially hosted in Lagos after enjoying four good years of Ile-Ife hosting by our Grand Host and Royal Father, His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11, Ooni of Ife, Olori Alade gbogbo, whose authority has confirmed to move this epoch making event to the city of Lagos and Center of Excellence with over 2 million expected participants and tourists both within Nigeria and from the Diaspora.”
“EKOFEST 23 is a major milestone in the history of the Yoruba Council Worldwide: Igbimo Apapo Yoruba Lagbaye umbrella body to all Yoruba indigenous groups globally, with special focus on Indigenization of all Yorubas to believe and hold on to their true noble Omoluabi identity.”, Aare Oladotun stated.
The event which is being sponsored by GOLDBERG with support from the Lagos State Ministry of Culture and Tourism will also feature the presentation of Omoluabi Royal Icon(ORI) Awards to exceptional and deserving Oodua descendants worldwide with over 1000 cultural entertainers and performers expected.
“We shall be working closely with the Lagos State Government under the hosting honour by His Excellency, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, Executive Governor of Lagos State and Omoluabi Eko Pataki Oodua of Yoruba Land and the Lagos State Ministry of Arts, Tourism and Culture.
“We believe this event we herald a new paradigm in the celebration of our culture and traditions, because this is the mother of all festivals , with over 2000 Royal Fathers accros Yoruba Land and 1000 diverse performances ranging from best of performing Arts, cultural festival enthusiasts and Drama display by all the various traditional festivals we have known and experienced in Yoruba Land like Eyo, Egungun, Igunuko, Fanty, Kiladelu, Zangbeto, while performing arts Troup from all the Yoruba speaking states of Nigeria will be witnessed with high energetic innovation and uncommon vision.”, the statement added.
Other dignitaries expected at the event include the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the Chief Host; the Oniru of Iruland, His Royal Majesty, Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, Abisogun II; the Elegushi of Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oba Alayeluwa Saheed Ademola Elegushi, Kusenla III among others.
