The Ogun State Government has listed the annual festival of the Ota Awori Kingdom in the Ogun State Festival Calendar .
This was announced by the Central Planning Committee of the 2023 edition of the festival, Chied Temidayo Idowu, during a World Press Conference to herald this year’s festival
Chief Idowu stated that the annual festival has become an enviable tool to develop the tourism, cultural , economic and commercial activities of not just the Awori kingdom but also Ogun State and Nigeria as a country
He said ” We want to sincerely appreciate the Ogun State Government under the leadership of our amiable executive Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun , CON, for identifying with us by approving the enlistment of the annual Omo Iganmode Cultural Festival in the State Festival Calendar , which has given a boost in the tourism sector among other .”
” We are very certain that this year’s festival will surely boost the tourism , economic and commercial activities of the state and will have significant impacts in the growth of our major sponsors , considering the lined programme for this year’s s edition
“The uniqueness of the annual cultural is the promotion and exhibition of exquisite culture and tradition of the Awori people and an avenue to appease the for continuous growth , guidance, development, stability, peace and tranquillity. ”
He listed the events, which have been lined up for the festival as : Gbedu drum ,Osugbo prayer ,Aje worship ,Orisa celebration, Ijamido omi atura procession , Ijoko omoba with Olota ,youths summit ,visit to Ijamido orphanage ,efe gelede ,cultural display and performance ,homage to olota , Igan Ode hunters ‘ procession ,ewi and bata ,egugun display and cultural dance ,ileya omo Iganmode ,jumat service and church thanksgiving
Earlier , the Olota of Ota , Awori Kindgom ,Oba Prof ,Abdulkabir Obalanlege urged the sons and daughters of Awori kingdom , corporate entities,the government and the youths to give the organizing committee the best supports it can get to organize a befitting event .”
The monarch , while speaking on the listing of Omo Iganmode Festival by the Ogun State Government said ” The memorable feat must remain in our consciousness as a recognition of the concerted and sustained efforts of committee that we have appointed to organize the event”
Oba Obalanlege also said “The Iganmode Cultural Festival is an annual festival of the Ota Kingdom , Ogun State and it has stood the test of time , spanning many decades and getting bigger in status, acceptability and status ”
” I must emphasize the instructivenes of the theme of this year’s event ” Ota the cradle of Awori’s civilization ” . The theme did not only conceptualize the phenomenon , called Ota Kingdom as the unarguable symbol of civilization in Awori land but also stretches further that it is the origin and basis for which civilization in Awori land can be defined Olota said .”
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