Kunle Adelabu
– Celebration begins with traditional prayers
The Planning Committee of the 31st Igbogbo Day Celebration has called for supports from residents towards a successful celebration while rolling out prgramme of activities for the 2019 edition of the weeklong celebration on Friday, November 22, 2019.
At the press conference held at the Adeboruwa pavilion, Mr Gbenga Faniyi, Chairman of the planning committee, also assured residents of getting values for their supports during the celebration.
While seeking for support from sons and daughters of Igbogbo, both home and in diasporas, as well as residents and corporate bodies towards a successful celeberation, he stated that the community intend to lay the foundation of the proposed Igbogbo Town Hall before next year’s celebration.
“Our major project, on which proceeds from this year’s celebration are going to be expended on is the construction of the proposed Town hall. We intend to lay the foundation and start work on it before next year’s edition of Igbogbo Day” , he stated.
“In this wise, we are seeking the support of everyone to make our intention a reality”, he appealed.
According to Mr Faniyi, the celebration, which has provided veritable platform unite Igbogbo people, will commence on Friday, November 22 with Iwure (traditional prayers) at the Adeboruwa palace in Igbogbo, followed by Press Conference at Oba J.O Fatola’s Pavilion by 11am and Special Jumat Service by 1pm respectively.
Civil Service, scheduled for Friday evening, according to the committee, was designed to bring together all sons and daugthers of Igbogbo in public and civil service.
There will be International Carnival on the Day 2 of the celebration on Saturday, November 23, 2019, and residents are expected to gather as early as 7am at the Adeboruwa palace from where they would proceed on a procession round the ancient community
According to the chairman, “We are going to be displaying cultural heritages of the people of Igbogbo during the carnival. You are going to be seeing various ‘Ituns’ that made up Igbogbo, different traditional groups and others showcasing some of our heritages and cultural”.
Other programmes scheduled to hold during this year’s Igbogbo Day, as officially released by the Chairman of the planning committee, were:
The Day 3 (Sunday, November 24, 2019) is scheduled as Artistes’ Day at Adeboruwa Palace, Igbogbo, while Ram Competition would take place at the lgbogbo Sports Stadium by 2pm.
Education Day is slated for Monday, November 25, 2019, and it will feature Symposium on Drug Abuse as well as finals of Quiz Competition and Debate at Adeboruwa Palace, Igbogbo, by 10am.
Day 5 of the 2019 Igbogbo Day (Tuesday, November 26, 2019) will feature Blood Pressure Test at Adeboruwa Palace,Igbogbo, by 9am.
The Health Programme will continue on Day 6 (Wednesday November 27, 2019) with Cervical Screening at Oba J.O Fatola’s Pavilion ,Adeboruwa Palace in Igbogbo, and Medical Consultations at designated hospital by 10am.
There will also be Welfare programme for the aged on the same day at the Adeboruwa Palace, Igbogbo, by 10am
The final match of the Adeboruwa Football Competition will also be played at the Igbogbo Sports Stadium,Igbogbo, by 2pm on November 27.
The Day 7 (Thursday, November 28, 2019) is dedicated to Market Men and Women in the community and Artisans.
On the same, there will be Mini Trade Fair at Igbogbo Sports Stadium, Igbogbo.
On the same day, there will be Youths Empowerment, Gala Night, Miss Adeboruwa Beauty Pageant at Mikky Onas Hall, Igbogbo, by 4pm.
Grand Finale of the 2019 Igbogbo Day, featuring performancees by musicians and a Raffle Draw event, comes up at Igbogbo Sports Stadium, Igbogbo, by 9am on Saturday, November 30, 2019.
Popular fuji musician and ‘Rapala’ exponent, Alhaji Abass Amanda Obesere, will be on ground to entertain expected royal fathers, guests and residents.
2019 Igbogbo Day Celebration would be rounded off with Christian Thanksgiving Service scheduled to hold at the United African Methodist Church (Eleja), Igbogbo, by 10am on Sunday, December 1, 2019.
Mr Faniyi also solicited for supports and cooperation from the media in publicising and disseminating information regarding the activities of the celebration.
While responding to questions during the press conference, Chief (Mrs) Adebimpe Akinsola, the Oluomo of Igbogbo and former acting Commissioner Tourism/Special Adviser on Arts & Culture, Lagos State, stated that the Igbogbo Development Association (IDEA) and members of the 2019 Igbogbo Day Planning Committee will be presenting a comprehensive report on the journey so far regarding Igbogbo Day Celebration.
“I can assure you all that the Igbogbo Development Association and Igbogbo Day Planning Committee will be meeting to work on the journey so far as far as the annual community day celebration is concerned. We are going to be working on Igbogbo Day Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow to highlight what we have been able to achieve through the celebration, what we are doing presently and what we shall be doing in the nearest future”.
While assuring that this year’s edition would leave up to its billing , Hon. Akinsola also solicited for media assistance in propagating the activities.
“This year Igbogbo Day is going to be a ‘bomb”, she stated.
“We are mindful of the importance and critical roles of press in propagating our activities, hence, we seek for your support”.
Meanwhile, 31st Igbogbo Day Celebrations kicked off on Friday with ‘Iwure’ (traditional prayers) at the Adeboruwa palace by different traditional groups.
At the prayer session was the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, His Royal Majesty, Oba Semiudeen Ormadegun Kasali, his chiefs, members of the 2019 Igbogbo Day Planning Committee led by Mr Gbenga Faniyi and members of Igbogbo Development Association (IDEA).
The Apena of Igbogbo, Chief Yahya Agoro who represented the ‘Osugbo’ (the highest traditional authority in the community) led the traditional prayers.
There were also Iya Abiye of Igbogbo, Eleke of Asa, Onigunnuko, representative of Oro Meri, representative of Awopa and the Araba of Igbogbo.
Also on that Friday, the inaugurated edition of the Public/Civil Service Day organized by the Conference of Igbogbo Indigene In Civil and Public Service (COIICPS), which is part of the activities of the Igbogbo Day celebration, was also held at the Shokis Hotel in Igbogbo.
