Thousands gather in Ibadan for ninth Eidfest celebration after Ramadan

NO fewer than 5,000 Muslims converged on Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, for the ninth edition of Ibadan Eidfest, a post-Ramadan gathering designed to foster unity, relaxation and community engagement among adherents.

The event, organised by The Muslim Tribe, was held on Saturday at the University of Ibadan Central Mosque premises. It provided a platform for Muslims to reconnect, exchange greetings and unwind after the month-long Ramadan fast.

The festival attracted a diverse audience, including children, parents, Islamic clerics, academics, professionals, students and youths.

The atmosphere combined recreation with spirituality, as families enjoyed leisure activities while business owners showcased goods and services.

Convener of the event, Mahmudat Yussuf, said Eidfest was conceived in 2018 to challenge the perception that Eid celebrations lack fun and recreational value.

“We started this event to create something befitting, like an amusement park setting, where Muslims can come together under one roof to commemorate Eid-el-Fitr with their families and friends,” she said.

Yussuf noted that the initiative has grown steadily over the years, drawing increasing participation.

She added that this year’s edition received support from corporate organisations, including MTN and Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc.

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Speakers at the event emphasised the need for Muslims to sustain the spiritual discipline cultivated during Ramadan.

An Ibadan-based Islamic scholar, Dr. Daud Amoo Alaga, urged attendees to uphold the lessons of the fasting period, describing Ramadan as a time of moral and spiritual training.

“The essence of Ramadan is to build piety. Our minds, speech and actions are trained to align with divine injunctions. We must not abandon these virtues after the fasting period. Spiritual growth is continuous,” he said.

Alaga also commended the initiative, noting that such gatherings were uncommon in the past but are now necessary to engage younger generations in a meaningful and culturally appropriate manner.

Similarly, Executive Secretary of Child Development and Concern Foundation, Alhaji Iskil Yusuf, described the programme as a fitting way to conclude the “rigours” of Ramadan.

“This event provides an avenue to relax, reconnect and build relationships based on Islamic principles. It also creates opportunities for business owners and offers educational value for children and adults alike,” he said.

He urged Muslims to continue practising the virtues of charity, discipline and devotion learned during Ramadan in their daily lives.

Also speaking, the Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols at the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) and national president of the Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN), Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Balogun, described Ramadan as a spiritual retreat that should shape conduct beyond the fasting period.

“Ramadan teaches us how to pray, fast, give charity and relate with others. These lessons must be sustained after the season,” he said.

He added that events like Eidfest provide much-needed recreational outlets for Muslim families, especially children, while strengthening communal bonds.

Participants praised the initiative, describing it as a welcome blend of faith, culture and recreation and a growing tradition in Ibadan’s Muslim community.