Wale Jagun & Mariam Akinloye
-Talent’s discovery is part of our core values – KKES
The historic and magnificent Ikorodu Town Hall will play host to the live performance of a play, “Owanbe”, the winning play at Ikorodu – Oga Development Association (IKODASS) maiden Play Writing Competition under the Ikorodu Literary Initiative (ILI) initiated during the immediate past IKODASS administration.
The play will be staged live by IKODASS in conjunction with the Kith & Kin Educational Schools (KKES), on Wednesday, 16th July, 2025, with His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Kabir Adewale Shotobi, the Ayangbure iof Ikorodu and other important dignitaries will be in attendance.
IKODASS under the administration of Asiwaju Rotimi Erogbogbo initiated the Ikorodu Literary Initiative (ILI) in 2022.
According to the IKODASS Chairman, Alhaji Kolawole Fatai, at his administration’s maiden press conference held at the association’s secretariat, heralding the performance, described the initiative as first of many to come from the socio – cultural and developmental group.
“In the same vein, this is the first in the series of major collaborative projects to be embarked upon by our Executive Council, since we were inaugurated about 2 months ago.
“I will therefore like to express my sincere appreciation to our Community Leader and Elder-Statesman, in person of Asiwaju Kaoli Olusanya, the Chief Learning Officer, Kith & Kin Educational Schools for initiating this strategic partnership.
“When the current IKODASS Executive Council was inaugurated, we adopted a development agenda with the acronym, A-R-I-S-E; IKODASS- A-R-I-S-E, Ikorodu Oga Gbe’ra!
“For many skeptics who thought that we were only playing around with words, today’s Press Conference has finally confirmed that our Executive Council is committed to the fulfillment of every letter in the ARISE Agenda,” he said.
Alhaji Kolawole said the play would be staged at the Ikorodu Town Hall in execution of his administration’s agenda especially the promotion of education in Ikorodu while commending his immediate predecessor, Asiwaju Rotimi Erogbogbo for initiating the step that his own administration will be building on.
He further commended the Chief Learning Officer, KKES, Asiwaju Kaoli for his school’s wholistic approach to learning.
“The forthcoming Live Stage Performance of Owambe Play is in direct alignment with the ‘E’ in our agenda, which stands for Education. The Play, Owambe underscores the commitment of IKODASS to the promotion of education, through Literary Competition among Ikorodu youths. Kudos to my predecessor, Asiwaju Rotimi Erogbogbo for initiating the competition during his tenure.
“The current IKODASS Executive Council, in its belief that government is a continuum has therefore deemed it fit to build on the foundation laid by the immediate past Executive by bringing the story in the book to life, through the Live Stage Performance.
“At this juncture, let me commend the visionary leadership of the Chief Learning Officer of Kith & Kin Educational Schools, Asiwaju Kaoli Olusanya for promoting learning beyond the four walls of the classroom through the drama performance.
“The stage performance further lends credence to our administration’s passion for talent discovery and promotion among school students and youths across the Ikorodu community.”
The IKODASS Chairman said the play showcases Ikorodu people’s socio – cultural lifestyle which makes them unique and at the same time it’s also a way of promoting education and discovering talents.
“The Owanbe literary book showcases what makes us thick and unique as sons and daughters of Ikorodu-Oga by promoting our socio-cultural values as a people. This is apart from promoting informal learning among students, while also serving as a platform for discovering and promoting acting and other creative talents among secondary school students.
“The Live Drama Performance will also feature a special cultural dance performance by the newly reconstituted IKODASS Baby – Ikorodu-Oga Cultural Troupe (IKOCAT), thus making it a showcase of the rich socio-cultural heritage of Ikorodu town.
“Owanbe Live Stage Performance is a manifestation of what is achievable through strategic collaboration, hence I want to use this opportunity to announce to all and sundry that our Executive Council is open to partnerships and collaborations that will move our Dear Ikorodu forward,” the IKODASS Chairman explained.
Author of the book, “Owanbe”, Mr. Olusola Ekundayo David, speaking said that the play reflects the challenges of everyday life in today’s world where the youth are confronted with cultural challenges.
“The book, “Owanbe” is a play; a drama that mirrors or reflects the youth of today, or the battle that the youth of today fight, or their struggles trying to blend desires with duties. It tells the story of Segun, who tries to become the head of his family after his father’s death, but he was not respecting the culture.
“But at the end, he got into a problem and realised that no matter who you are, you can never be an island, and that you will always need people. No matter how you say you can do it alone, life will always bring you back to a people called family.
“At the end of this stage play, I want the audience to go home with the fact that we are one. I also want this book to go far. I want it to be a point of reference, and, of course, I want it to shape life and destiny, and be an added value to our culture in Nigeria, Ikorodu, and of course in Africa as a continent,” he said.
Mr Oregbesan Julius Gbenga, Principal of Kith and Kin International College Ikorodu, said that KKES does not limit students’ capacity to reading and writing, but also allows them to explore other aspects of learning.
“In Kith and Kin International College, we do not limit our students to reading and writing, we try to explore the three domains of learning – cognitive, affective, psychomotor.
“We know that some students might not really do well in an academic environment, but when it comes to the play, drama, they excel. Our core value and unique selling point as a school is that we do not limit our students to reading and writing. We have to discover talent, and every talent we discover either in sport, drama or technology, we try to help such students to do better.
“Over the years, we have seen those that are not doing well in academics that can do very well in drama and we are trying to use that to promote them. As a result of that, it has become a yearly event in Kith and Kin Educational Schools, so that those that cannot do well fantastically in some subjects are giving the opportunity to do well in other areas, and that is the more reason why we are coming this year again to perform a live stage drama of a play titled, “Owanbe“,” he said.
Recall that the author of the play, Owanbe”, Olusola Ekundayo David , was announced as the winner by the IKODASS Play Writing Competition under the Ikorodu Literary Initiative (ILI), during the grand finale of the Ikorodu – Oga Carnival held on Saturday, November 19, 2022.
With the remarkable feat, David won the star prize of N300, 000. 00, alongside performance and publishing contracts.
