Ojude Oba festival remains a timeless cultural heritage, rooted in identity, says planning committee

•Unveils Oluremi Tinubu as special guest of honour

•Globacom renews commitment to festival

THE annual Ojude Oba Awujale festival of Ijebuland, Ogun State, has been described as a timeless cultural heritage, rooted in identity, and one that transcends personalities.

This was disclosed by the 2026 Ojude Oba Festival Planning Committee during a press conference, held at the Afin Awujale, in Ijebu Ode on Tuesday.

The coordinator of the festival, Professor Fassy Yusuf, said the age-long festival remains a pride and unity of Ijebuland, submitting that suspending the festival because of the transition of the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Dr Sikiru Adetona, would undermined decades of cultural preservation and economic advancement.

He explained that suspending the festival would inflict unquantifiable loss on the people, tourism and economic wise, and more importantly the global cultural standing of the festival.

The coordinator informed that the late Oba Adetona made it clear in his lifetime, that the festival must not be suspended on the account of his passage or interregnum.

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He said: “Indeed, our highly respected late Kabiyesi himself made it abundantly clear that Ojude Oba must never be suspended on account of his passage or during any interregnum.

“According to his noble conviction, the festival remains a sacred cultural institution that must continue to flourish up to eternity.

“It is, therefore, with great pride, confidence and a deep sense of responsibility that we announce to the world today that the 2026 Ojude Oba Festival shall hold with all its grandeur and splendour by the grace of Almighty God.

“The festival remains alive, vibrant and firmly established as a unifying symbol of our heritage, our religious tolerance, our pride and our collective destiny as a people.”

Yusuf said the theme of the festival: ‘Ojude Oba 2026: Celebrating the legacy of Oba Sikiry Adetona,’ was inspired by the enduring legacies and monumental contributions of the late monarch to the Ijebu people.

Meanwhile, Globacom, Nigeria’s leading digital solutions company, is once again showing its dedication to Nigerian culture as the headline sponsor of the 2026 Ojude Oba festival. This marks the 21st year in a row that Globacom has supported one of Nigeria’s most cherished cultural celebrations in Ijebuland.

At the pre-event press conference in Ijebu Ode, Globacom’s Olumide Orojimi emphasised the company’s deep respect for tradition, identity, and unity.

He also noted that Globacom’s partnership with the festival has helped shine a brighter light on Ijebu culture and African heritage as a whole.

Festival attendees can look forward to age grade competitions with various cash prizes. N750,000 for first place, N600,000 for second, and N500,000 for third. They can also explore Globacom’s latest products and devices during the festivities.

Beyond Ojude Oba, Globacom continues to support other important cultural events, like the Ofala Festival in Onitsha.