Ife Sons And Daughters In Lagos Host Ooni

On Sunday 23rd January, 2022, Ife sons and daughters in Lagos and it’s environs will welcome His Imperial Majesty, Arole Oduduwa Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi, Ojaja II to an historical banquet holding at the prestigious Metropolitan Club, Victoria Island, Lagos to honour the Ooni and afford discussions on the development of the Cradle of mankind. The visit will bring back the memory of the first visit to Lagos in 1903 by an Ooni when Olubuse I was invited by the then Governor General of Nigeria to advise on the eligibility of some Yoruba Obas to wear beaded crowns. In contemporary period, the Ife community always accord their kings in high esteem.

Ooni Adesoji Aderemi was hosted lavishly by Ife Indigenes at the Federal Palace Hotel, with King Sunny Ade on the stage. That was in the early 70s. That year Chief Obafemi Awolowo was at the Federal Palace to see the Ooni before the event.

The one day event will incorporate a summit with the theme: Ife Developmental Agenda – Issues, Aims and Strategies for Development.

The basic concept of the summit is to ensure the community involvement as a social movement in engaging people in a collective opinions, efforts and activities for decisions upon public concerns which affect them; and to take responsibility in the changes that may start to occur in their Community development as a holistic approach grounded in principles of empowerment, inclusion, social justice, self-determination and collective action.

Speaking on the event, the Chairman of the Organising Committee, Mr. Soji Awogbade said Ooni Ogunwusi will highlight on his vision for Ile-Ife and the Yoruba people with a resolve to mobilise a collective commitment in the best interest of all. The summit shall coordinate and aggregate opinions with a focus to implement decisions and informed opinions at the event.

For the organising Committee

Lawrence Omidiora