Kune Adelabu
-We are introducing cultural, food festivals, other innovations
The Chairman of the Ikorodu – Oga Development Association (IKODASS), Mr Rotimi Erogbogbo has assured the generality of sons and daughters of Ikorodu, both home and abroad, as well as residents and friends of the Ikorodu Kingdom that this year’s Ikorodu – Oga Carnival would be special.
He said that new initiatives have been introduced to make the 30th edition of the annual carnival, which is recognized by the state government, achieve its aims.
The preparations for this year’s Ikorodu-Oga celebrations were effectively kicked off with the unveiling of the logo and activities during the General Council Meeting of IKODASS held at the Oteju Hall, Ikorodu Town Hall, Ikorodu, on Sunday, September 26, 2021.
Also, the ‘Aso Ebi’ (local fabric) for the celebration was also presented to members of the affiliated clubs and associations and members of the press by the IKODASS Chairman with the support of other executive members.
The 2021 edition of the carnival is themed, “The future is Here!” and wwould be held between 13th and 20th of November, 2021.
While explaining why this year’s edition of the lkorodu-Oga Day will be special to the gathering at the event, Erogbogbo said :
“IKODASS is an umbrella body for over 300 registered clubs and associations in Ikorodu and today, we gave them feedback during the Council General Meeting and let them know the events coming up during the annual Oga festival”, Erogbogbo said.
“For this year, the Ikorodu – Oga Day is commencing on November 13th to November 20th. This is an occasion that we are using to unveil the attire that we are going to wear for the Oga Day.
“As usual practice, we are also unveiling the logo. And since all these have been done, it means the commencement of the 2021 Oga festival.
“This is the 30th edition and because that is a special number, I can assure you that it is going to be special celebrations; I can assure you that there will be a lot of improvement on what we will be doing, particularly in the area of culture.
“It’s going to be cultural festival and there will be food festival and a whole lot of things that we want to bring on board this time around. Through that, we want to show the impact of culture in our place and see how it is placed in Lagos State”, he said.
He assured that youths will be fully involved in the celebration because they are the future of the town.
“There will be a separate day for youths of Ikorodu. In actual fact, we have started the celebration for the youths before now. Of course, I know that there is a disconnect between the youth and the old and a culture is a way of life of our people and it is important for us to engage them in many ways”, he assured.
“There will be a match past, a beauty pageant and a host of other activities for the youths. They are the ones that we are going to hand over this cultural thing to and so, they are fully part of the celebrations. They will have a full day”.
Speaking on the theme of this year’s carnival, ‘The future is Here!’, the IKODASS Chairman said that:
“The theme for this year’s Oga Day is, ‘The Future is Here!’. When I say the future is here, you do not need to wonder why l said that. Ikorodu is strategically located in a geographical location that is second to none among all the divisions of Lagos State. I am bold to say this”, Erogbogbo said.
“That is why you are seeing the road networks as well as the Third Mainland Bridge, Seaport and others coming to lkorodu and I can tell you that we also have some Dry Seaports in Ikorodu now. The future is here. We have all the opportunities, which is why we are saying that the future is here”.
On his expectations from the people of Ikorodu, both home and abroad, Erogbogbo said:
“My expectations from the people are that the narrative about Ikorodu should change. That, all the negative stories about Ikorodu are not true and since we know that what they are saying about us is not true, we all need to echo that it is not true because we know that they are not true”, he said.
“Let the world know that Ikorodu is not about ‘Badoo’. There is something greater here; Ikorodu has resources, culture and people.
“We want people to begin to come into Ikorodu and do their businesses. This is how to increase our economic prosperity. We want their support in changing the narrative. These are our expectations”, IKODASS said.
Before the unveiling, the IKODASS Chairman also presided over his first IKODASS Council Meeting, where proposals for changes to some of the traditional Ikorodu – Oga Day programmes were approved by the Council.
Over 50 IKODASS’ affiliated clubs and associations’ representatives were present at the meeting
