Kunle Adelabu & Temitope Mistura Owolabi (SIWES Student)
It was yet another successful outing at the on-going 2019 Ikorodu-Oga Day Carnival when scores of residents relished different sumptuous Ikorodu traditional delicacies that were made available during the ‘Taste of Local Dishes and Musical/Drama Fiesta’ held on Tuesday, November 12, 2019 at the Ikorodu Town hall, Ikorodu.
Among the popular Ikorodu traditional/local food on display at the event were Ikokore (lfoko), Afon, Egbo, Sagidi, Akara Oka and many others.
The event also featured fashion and hair parades by tailors and hairdressers in Ikorodu while members of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) were on ground to entertain the royal families, chiefs, invited guests and residents who had turned out enmasse to be part of the memorable event.
The event also presented the opportunity to celebrate the past chairmen of the Ikorodu-Oga Development Association (IKODASS), the organiser of annual celebration which has been in existence for 28 years but received was recognized by the state government in 2018.
After keen contests among the tailors and hairdressers , Mrs Adegbola Fatima, a tailor with AZ Fashion outfit on Gberigbe road, and Balogun Sukurat Abosede, a hairdresser whose shop is located at Olubi Street, Ikorodu, emerged winners in Tailoring and Hairdressing parades respectively.
Otunba Ganiyu Abiru, Chairman, IKODASS, speaking at the event, thanked His Royal Majesty, Oba Kabiri Shotobi, his amiable wife, Olori Kudirat Shotobi, traditional chiefs and past IKODASS Chairmen for their supports for the event.
He described the annual celebration as platform to unify residents of the community and connect Ikorodu people, both at home and in diasporas.
Emphasizing the importance of the event of the day,, Otunba Abiru stated:
“The main reason this is happening today is because we want to celebrate our past chairmen and the past members of IKODASS who had impacted on us positively. We are all thankful to them.
“God has really blessed us in Ikorodu. In addition to the celebration of those that had impacted us positively, we are also showcasing some of our local dishes that help our body like draw soup, porridge and a lot more.
He stated that the platform is also being used to promote musicians, artistes and actresses who are in abundance in Ikorodu.
His Royal Majesty, Oba Kabir Shotbi, the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, speaking with THE IMPACT, stated that the essence of the celebration is to promote the abundance cultural values of Ikorodu.
He added that the annual celebration was designed as a platform for indigenes, residents and visitors to come together and have fun as well as provide them with opportunities to market their goods and also services and promote ideas.
“The celebration, aside promoting our cultural values, also has economic values. You can see the market expo going on outside the hall and many people bringing in their goods and services. This is a way of using culture to promote our economic values”.
The royal majesty added that Ikorodu is keying into the policy drive of Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration in developing tourism to promote social, economic and political aspects of the state.
Kemisola Akinduntire of Zybuk Home of Fashion Designing and Ogunabanwo AbdulAzeez Adeyemi whose shop is located at 40, Samsideen Jaiyesimi in Ikorodu, emerged 1st and 2nd runner-ups respectively at this year’s fashion parade.
In the hairdressing category, Akinwole Kehinde whose shop is located at Suberu Ogunsanya street, Solomade,Ikorodu, and Oluwa Idayat who has her own shop at Pashoku Street, Aga, Ikorodu, emerged 1st and 2nd runner-ups.
Meanwhile, the Ikorodu-Oga Market Expo, which started last Saturday, is still ongoing with more businesses displaying their goods and services while residents and visitors are trooping in with their family members to shop for different goods and services.
More so,since the commencement of the 2019 edition of the Ikorodu-Oga carnival, it has been fun galore as lots of fun filled activities have been taking place every evening at the Ikorodu town hall as members of the Organisation of Party Entertainers of Nigeria (OPEN) , invited musicians and other entertainers have been thrilling residents and tourists with unforgettable entertainment.
Also, popular fuji musican, Alhaji Wasiu Alabi Pasuma, and the multiple award winning Afro Hiphop act, 9ice, would be on stage at the venue to entertain fun loving residents on Thursday, November 14, 2019.
