Kunle Adelabu
– Unveil official fabric (Ankara) for the weeklong event
Massive mobilization has commenced towards a successful 2021 Igbogbo Day Celebration as the Adeboruwa palace and chieftains of the Igbogbo Day Planning Committee engaged Small and Medium Businesses operating in Igbogbo, towards mobilising them for this year’s celebration.
At the meeting held at the Adeboruwa palace in Igbogbo on Tuesday, October 12, 2021, business owners were charged to be fully part of this year’s celebration through financial and moral support.
This year’s celebration, which is the 33rd edition of the annual event, will commence on Friday, November 19 and wrap up on Sunday, November 28, 2021.
Also at the meeting, a local fabric, popularly called ‘Ankara’, was unveiled as the official attire for this year’s celebration.
At the meeting, the community and planning committee also stated that proceeds from the celebration this year would be added to what was realised at the last edition to commence the construction of the proposed ultra-modern Igbogbo Town Hall.
High Chief Tajudeen Duduyemi Onasanya, the Odofin of Igbogbo, who represented His Royal Majesty, (Oba) Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, while addressing business owners and representatives at the meeting on behalf of the monarch, informed them that Oba Kasali, in whose instance the meeting was summoned, was unavoidably absent due to important state matter.
He said that the meeting was called because of the importance that the palace and lgbogbo community attached to businesses.
“On behalf of the Alayeluwa (Oba Abdul-Semiu Kasali) , l welcome you to the Adeboruwa palace. This is a town that attaches importance to businesses and this is why we have a celebration within the annual Igbogbo Day celebration for market and businesses”, the High Chief said.
“The Kabiyesi has observed that small businesses in Igbogbo are not participating morally and financially in the annual celebration. We want to know why and find a way forward for your participation.
“Our Kabiyesi and the entire Igbogbo people who have been supporting are still very much interested to continue extending their support and you can see that in our efforts to improve infrastructural facilities which your businesses are benefiting from.
“Today, he has gone to the state with other royal fathers in the Division for another important matter concerning Igbogbo and Ikorodu Division in general.
“So, we call you here today to know why you have not been participating and how both parties can adjust where necessary and ensure that you are fully part of this year’s Igbogbo Day celebration and subsequent editions.
High Chief Onasanya also assured traditional chiefs and members of the planning committee that business owners would also contribute to the task that has been given to business owners in Igbogbo as their own contribution to the celebration aside their individual contributions.
Mr N.T.A Balogun, Chairman, Igbogbo Day Planning Committee, also speaking, said that the community is doing so much in ensuring that there are infrastructural developments to enhance business growth in Igbogbo.
“Our Kabiyesi and the entire community have been doing so much to improve the infrastructural development in Igbogbo which has been enhancing businesses. The Ofin/Oreta road has been awarded and there is a major road construction going on in Igbogbo and many other infrastructural projects due to these efforts”, he said.
“While many of us are sleeping, those in custody of our traditions are ensuring that the community is safe, prosperous and peaceful through many of their traditional intercessions.
“It is now expected of us (business owners) to reciprocate by contributing to the development of the community in our own ways”.
He said that the community has perfected plans to start building an ultra – modern Igbogbo Town hall from proceeds from this year’s Igbogbo Day and previous ones.
“Our intention, as agreed with Kabiyesi, is to start the building of the Igbogbo Town Hall from the fund generated from Igbogbo Day this year and that of last year”, the Igbogbo Day Planning Committee Chairman said.
“Igbogbo do keep records of people’s contributions and I can assure that the town will never forget to appreciate you if you contribute to its development”, he assured business owners.
In his own contribution, Alhaji Sulaimon Ayokunle, the Alakoso Adinni, Igbogbo Central Mosque and Treasurer, Igbogbo Day Planning Committee, said that the committee wants this year’s edition to be an improvement on previous editions while adding that the entire community needed the support of business owners in achieving this.
“We want this year’s Igbogbo Day celebration to be an improvement on previous editions and to achieve this, we all must be involved because it is about the development of Igbogbo”, he said.
“Business owners must participate as part of their Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) and that is why Kabiyesi called this meeting.
“As business owners, we must be able to generate a minimum of N5milion as our contributions towards the 2021 Igbogbo Day because we have well over 100 Small and Medium Businesses in Igbogbo.
“Igbogbo is a land of cool beauty which has accommodated business owners and in return, they must support its development including myself as a business owner”, he charged.
Speaking earlier, Mr Idris Adeshina, the Secretary, Igbogbo Day Planning Committee, said that the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, Oba Kasali, had observed the lack of participation by small and medium business owners in the development of Igbogbo community, especially the Igbogbo Day Celebration which is an annual event.
He also informed that this year’s celebration will be used to commemorate the five years coronation anniversary of Oba Semiudeen Kasali as the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo.
Before the parley with business owners, members of the planning committee and cloth dealers also had a fruitful discussion with the Adeboruwa – in – council.
