Wale Jagun & Mariam Akinloye with Ayoola Oladipupo
Royal fathers, Council Chairmen and many other eminent personalities at the weekend, turned out in their large numbers to celebrate with His Royal Majesty, Oba Olukayode David Raji, JP, the Eweye of Isiu Kingdom, and entire residents as the community celebrated another day at the Eweye Palace Ground.
The colourful celebration which also witnessed massive turnout of residents, families, associations, groups, and ethnicities that are resident in Isiu. The atmosphere was filled with excitement, music, and displays of cultural heritage, which served as a reminder of Isiu’s rich traditions and its commitment to collective development.
This year’s edition is themed, “Rebuilding Bonds, Rekindling Dreams”
At this year’s celebration, Isiu Eweye Development Association (ISEDASS) Merit Awards were presented to Mr Oladapo Adesumbo Aina, JP, Dr Haruna Oladunni Ishola Balogun, Asiwaju Micheal Olawale Ogunbela, Deaconess Elizabeth Awolesi Grillo, Imam Abubakri Muhammed Raji Al – Mufti, Olalekan Owolegbon, Chief Ifagbemi Buraimoh, the Araba of Isiu, Rev. Babatunde Matthew Tijani, Chief Suraju Sikiru, Chief Adeleke Oladeinde, and Chief Richard Banwo.
Associations, including Kingsmen Association, Isiu Kingdom (Egbe Gbobaniyi), Egbe Obayori, Egbe Bobakeye and the Nigeria Union of Tailors (Isiu Branch), were also honoured with the ISEDASS Merit Awards.
Some of the royal fathers that joined the Eweye and his people in the celebration were HRM, Oba Richard Abayomi Ogunsanya, Olubeshe of Ibeshe, HRM, Oba Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, The Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, HRM, Oba Basiru Aremu Shotonwa, The Sekumade of Ipakodo, Oba Adesegun Ebenezer Oyiri, Oloshoroki of Oshoriki, Lekki and HRM, Oba Alamu Oloyede Kehinde, Onikosi of Ikosi was represented by his Chiefs among others.
Also in attendance were Hon. Ameen Olawale Apanisile, Executive Chairman, Ikorodu North, who is the host chairman, Hon. Adedayo Ladega, Chairman, Ikorodu LG, Omo’ba Hammed Olalekan Aroyewun, Chairman, Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA and Hon. Sunday Benson Ayodele, Chairman Imota LCDA.
Otunba Folagbade Musa Banwo, Chairman ISESDASS, said that the theme of the celebration reflected the challenges and triumph of Isiu in the recent past and the resolution to forge ahead in rebuilding the community collectively.
“The theme for this year’s celebration, “Rebuilding Bonds, Rekindling Dreams,” perfectly captures the spirit of what Isiu represents at this moment in our history. For many years, our community has weathered storms — moments of disunity and misunderstanding that threatened to erode the foundation of our togetherness.
“Yet, like the proverbial palm tree that bends but never breaks, the spirit of Isiu has endured. Our people have held onto hope. And today, through collective efforts and the visionary leadership of our Royal Father, HRM Oba Olukayode David Raji, JP, the Eweye of Isiu Kingdom, we are rising again — stronger, wiser and more united.”
He explained the concept further, when he said:
“Rebuilding Bonds: The first part of our theme, “Rebuilding Bonds,” is not merely an aspiration — it is a movement. It represents the deliberate efforts we are making as a people to heal wounds, bridge divides and restore the social fabric that once held us together as one family under God and under the Eweye throne.
“Over the past year, ISEDASS, working in partnership with the Eweye Palace and its Executive Committee (EXCO), has engaged in a number of initiatives aimed at rekindling unity within our community. We have re-established dialogue among various interest groups, reached out to those who once felt alienated and built new channels of collaboration among our youths, our elders and our traditional institutions.
“In rekindling dreams, which is the second part of the theme, Otunba Banwo said that it, “speaks to our collective future — a future where Isiu is not defined by its challenges, but by its possibilities. We believe that every child in Isiu should have the opportunity to dream, to learn, to grow and to contribute meaningfully to the development of our town. We believe that our artisans, traders, teachers, farmers and professionals can all thrive when unity and vision drive our development.”
The ISESDASS Chairman pledged that the association will continue to mobilise stakeholders and residents for the overall development of Isiu.
“To this end, ISEDASS has continued to advocate for and support initiatives that promote education, youth empowerment, health and culture. In partnership with key stakeholders, we have launched mentorship programmes, skill acquisition drives and educational support efforts to give our young people renewed hope.
“We are proud to say that the spirit of volunteerism and communal contribution is once again alive in Isiu. We envision an Isiu where our cultural heritage becomes a tool for economic growth — where our festivals attract visitors, our crafts generate income and our collective identity becomes a source of pride and prosperity.”
He charged residents to ensure that the celebration did not just end, rather, Otunba Banwo enjoined them to let it renew their commitment towards the development of Isiu.
Alhaji Fatai Kolawole Olayiwola, Chairman, Ikorodu – Oga Development Association (IKODASS), who also spoke at the celebration congratulated and commended the monarch and entire Isiu residents for improvement in the annual celebration.
Executive Chairman, Ikorodu North LCDA, Hon. Ameen Apanisile, congratulating the Eweye and residents of Isiu on the successful celebration, thanked Odofin Adewunmi Ogunsanya, SAN, the Baba Oba of Isiu, Sen. Tokunbo Abiru, Senator representing Lagos East and Rep. Babajimi Benson, representative of Ikorodu Federal Constituency, for their efforts towards the development of Ikorodu North.
He assured residents that his administration will continue to embark on programmes and projects that are impactful to the people, adding that what he has been able to achieve in 100 days are attestations.
Eweye of Isiu, Oba Raji in his royal remarks, said that his kingdom has witnessed massive transformation in his five years reign compared to what it was in over 300 years when it lacked a monarch.
The royal father called for unity, cooperation and peace among his people while also charging them to continue to work for the progress and development of the town.
Oba Raji commended the government at all levels for their developmental projects in Isiu.
At the grand finale, gift items were presented to students and schools that took part in the educational competitions and activities of the annual day celebration.
Among other dignitaries that graced the occasion were Otunba Akinola Adegoke Awomodu, Chairman of the Day, Alhaji Wale Kazeem, Mayor Muhydeen Sanwoola, Executive Assistant to the Governor of Lagos State on Parks Management and Alhaji Taiwo Odumbo, Education Secretary, LGEA among other notables.
Also in attendance were various social and cultural groups like Omo Oke Parapo of Isiu Ikorodu, Egbe Bobaselu of Isiu Kingdom, Obayori Obirin Eweye Isiu, Egbe Gbobaniyi Isiu, as well as institutions and trade associations such as the Local Government Primary School, Isiu Grammar School, the Lagos State Central Sand and Granite Suppliers Association (Isiu Unit), and the Nigerian Association of Hairdressing, Barbing and Cosmetologists (NASCHO) Isiu Zone. Prominent families like the Odumbo, Etiko Royal (Owolabi/Sofuye), and Meruadenuigbo Aroyewun Akinyemi, along with the WAABCO Group, also showed strong representation.
