Proceeds From Previous Igbogbo Day Has Been Used For Developmental Projects – Chairman, Igbogbo Day Planning Committee

Kunle Adelabu

The Chairman of the 2017 Igbogbo Day Planning Committee, Engr. Femi Kalejaiye has affirmed that proceeds from the previous Igbogbo Day Celebrations have been used to facilitate many developmental projects in Igbogbo.

He made this revelation at a Press Conference to herald 2017 Igbogbo Day Celebraton.

The event was held at the Adeboruwa Pavilion located within the premises of the Adeboruwa Palace in Igbogbo in Ikorodu Division of Lagos State on Friday, November 17, 2017.

Engr. Kalajaye also revealed the project which proceeds from this year’s edition will be used for.

“Igbogbo Day Celebration, which is the first of its kind in the division, has been providing the platform for celebrations among indigenes, both home and in the Diasporas and non-indigenes. More importantly, the annual event has provided avenue to raise funds for developmental projects”, stated Engr Kalejaiye.

“Previous funds raised during the annual celebrations have also been judiciously expended by the organizers. We have been ensuring that they were used for developmental projects. With the proceeds, the community has constructed the Adeboruwa palace pavilion, installed street lights, renovated Igbogbo stadium among other projects”, said the planning committee chairman.

He added, “We intend to use the proceeds from this year’s edition to built an ultra modern Igbogbo City Hall. To achieve this, we shall be holding a dinner with our revered royal father, Oba Semiudeen Kasali, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, on Friday, November 9, 2017, to raise fund for the purpose among other activities lined-up for the celebration”.

Engr. Kalejaiye, who informed that the theme for this year’s annual celebration is , ‘Festival of new beginning’, also stated that 2017 Igbogbo Day would be celebrated alongside the 1st Coronation Anniversary of Oba Kasali,  who ascended the throne of his ancestors a year ago.

“This year’s edition is tagged, ‘Festival of New Beginning’ because we have a new Oba who has promised a new dawn and for about a year that he has mounted the throne, the community has been witnessing new things. We also have a new council administration led by a visionary chairman”, he explained.

He stated that a 10-day activities has been designed to jointly celebrate 2017 Igbogbo Day and 1st Coronation Anniversary of Oba Kasali.

Among activities announced at the press conference for the 2017 Igbogbo Day Celebration/1st Year Coronation Anniversary are Traditional prayer, Walk Against Domestic Violence, Dinner with Adeboruwa, Igbogbo Carnival parade, Health walk/talk, cultural day, spelling bee, homage to kabiyesi, youths and artisans empowerment, youth gala night, Igbogbo football competition and Miss Adeboruwa among others.

Engr. Kalejaye also announced that this year’s carnival parade, which is designed to showcase the cultural heritages of Igbogbo and displays by clubs and associations across the town, will be competitive.

“For this year carnival parade, it will be competitive among clubs. We expect participants  to be colourfully well dressed. The parade will showcase the richness of our culture and dynasmism of our clubs and associations.”

“The best club during the parade will win a sum of N100,000, first runner-up will get N50,000, while the second runner-up gets N30,000. It is going to be colourful and unique parade. If you are not there, you are not anywhere”, Engr. Kalejaiye boasted..

Also speaking, Comrade Mani Shonubi, the secretary of the 2017 Igbogbo Day Planning Committee, reeled out website and social media platforms through which the media and members of the public can get information regarding the celebration, coronation anniversary and Igbogbo general.

Why enjoining the media to cover all the 10 day activities, Comrade Shonubi also sought the support of the media in giving wider coverage to the celebration.

Other members of the planning committee at the briefing were Alhaji Jellili Abubakri Hasbunallahi, the Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ahmed Sholanke, Chairman, Youth Activities Committee and Hon. Gbenga Oshin, former member of the Lagos State House of Assembly and Mr Yahya Ogunsowo, a Supervisory Councilor in the Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area