Kunle Adelabu & Mariam Akinloye with Austin Onah (SIWES Student)
-Adeboruwa, Igbogbo/Baiyeku Chair Sue For Unity, Cooperation
The colourful presence of traditional rulers, top government functionaries, captains of industry, and other eminent personalities that attended the grand finale of the 37th edition of the annual Igbogbo Day Celebration added glamour, glitz and royalty to the climax of the week – long celebration.
The well – attended celebration chaired by Hon. Akin Alabi, the Jagun of Ibadan Land and Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Works, took place at the expansive grounds of Zumratul Islamiyyah Grammar School, Igbogbo, on Saturday.
Some of the royal fathers that joined the Chief Host and the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Barr.) Semiudeen Orimadeun Kasali in the celebration of his kingdom’s day were Royal Majesties, Oba (Dr.) Engr. Kabir Adewale Shotobi, the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, Oba Ajibade Bakare Agoro, the Ranodu of Imota, Oba Richard Ogunsanya, the Olubeshe of Ibeshe, Oba David Raji, the Eweye of Isiu, and Oba Bashir Shotonwa, the Sekumade of Ipakodo. And also, Oba Agbowa Ikosi, Oba Olumesi among others.
This year’s celebration is themed, “Celebration of the Shining Glory”.
Omo’ba Hammed Olalekan Aroyewun, Executive Chairman, Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, welcoming guests and residents to the annual celebration, said the annual occasion presented residents of Igbogbo Kingdom the opportunity to celebrate their heritage and rededicate themselves to the progress of the community.
“I welcome you all to this historic celebration of the 37th Igbogbo Day. I am excited to join you all to honour our heritage, celebrate our identity, and reaffirm our collective commitment to the continuous development of our beloved Igbogbo Kingdom.
“We must first give glory to Almighty God who has preserved us to witness yet another Igbogbo Day, an event that continues to unite us in love, culture, progress, and shared aspirations.”
The council executive further expatiated, “Igbogbo Day is more than an annual event. It is a homecoming, a cultural renaissance, a rallying occasion for community development, and a testament to the beauty and resilience of our people.”
Speaking about the various impacts of his administration within a short period of time, Aroyewun listed some projects that he has been able to achieve and assure stakeholders and general residents that his administration would sustain the tempo of the development.
“This year’s theme, “Celebration of the Shining Glory”, could not have been more appropriate. It reminds us that our heritage is rich, our future is bright, and that our collective progress must remain non-negotiable. It also reflects the steady light of development that continues to guide our community through the GLORY Agenda of this administration.
He listed “Rehabilitation and construction of key roads such as: Oliwo Amoju Road, Igbogbo, and parts of Obafemi Awolowo Way, Igbogbo, Construction of new health blocks at Ibeshe and Baiyeku Primary Health Centres as well as renovation of existing structures, and continuous medical support for our people, and advancement of education through the LCDA Spelling Bee Competition, Mass Education initiatives, and the ongoing process to establish the Zumratul Islamiyyah Primary School to expand access to quality basic education for children in Igbogbo Baiyeku LCDA.”
Also, “Youth initiatives including Mentorship With HOA, partnerships for vocational training, entrepreneurship support, and the recent Economic Youth Summit which empowered young people to unlock their potential and strengthening of community security with the reconstruction of the Joint Task Force Office and Area Office at Baiyeku and collaboration with Nigeria Police formations to expand their security architecture and systems.”
Aroyewun noted that: “These strides were made possible through collective support from our traditional institutions, community and political leaders, religious leaders, community development organisations, business entities, youth organisations, and our ever-supportive people.”
He called on residents to ensure that peace, unity and cooperation is maintained so as to continue to experience development.
“The shining glory we celebrate today is a responsibility that rests on all of us. We must continue to promote peace, unity, mutual respect, youth mentorship, moral uprightness, and community development. We must build a future where our children can proudly say: Awa l’omo Igbogbo and wear it as a badge of honour.
“Let us commit ourselves to preserving our values, celebrating one another, and working together to elevate Igbogbo to greater heights.
“As we celebrate, let us do so in joy, peace, and love. May this year’s Igbogbo Day renew our strength, inspire new possibilities, and usher our kingdom into a season of greater glory.”
The Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, Oba Kasali, in his royal remarks emphasised unity, forgiveness, and cooperation.
“I want to appeal to everyone to work towards unity, forgiveness to one another and the need for all of us to come together and work in harmony, so that, we can achieve unprecedented progress in our area. This is my message to you which I stand for completely.”
The royal father thanked the invited royal fathers and dignitaries for honouring his invitation.
The Ayangbure of Ikorodu Oba Kabir Shotobi also in his royal remarks described the celebration as “interesting and truly fantastic.” Ayangbure thanked stakeholders and residents of Igbogbo for standing by and supporting the Adeboruwa.
He assured the large crowd who are mostly Igbogbo residents that major roads that are undergoing construction and those abandoned would be completed next year.
Ranodu of Imota, Oba Mudashiru Ajibàde Agoro, stressed that Igbogbo in the years past was interesting the same with the kingdom in the present times and also added that more interesting and great times await the community in future.
While rejoicing with the Adeboruwa, Oba Agoro also lauded his leadership roles which he said brought great turnaround for his kingdom.
Hon. Akin Alabi, Chairman of the occasion, who thanked royal fathers and described his appointment as the chairman as humbling, also said that he’s no stranger to Ikorodu Division because he married from Ikorodu.
He appealed for more support for Rep. Babajimi Benson, representative of Ikorodu Federal Constituency whom he called his senior colleague and spoke glowingly about his legislative and representative capacity come 2027.
He also assured royal fathers of his continuous support and representation of their institution.
The Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, who was represented by Hon. Noheem Babatunde Adams, the Majority Leader, Lagos State House of Assembly, also congratulated the Adeboruwa and entire people of Igbogbo Kingdom on the occasion of the celebration.
He lauded the quality representation of Rep. Benson whom he jokingly asked to be borrowed to his own constituency.
He prayed for more successful celebrations of Igbogbo Day and a long reign for the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo.
Rep. Babajimi Benson, the representative of Ikorodu Federal Constituency who also felicitated the royal father and constituents in Igbogbo for the successful 37th celebration assured them that more developmental projects would be implemented by Omo’ba Hameed Aroyewun.
“The Chairman, Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA is performing and you still have to give him time to settle down because he will still do more. He has no reason not to deliver and perform more than his predecessor that also made significant contributions.
While congratulating stakeholders and residents of Igbogbo on the successful completion of the annual day, Rep. Benson also wished them a great celebration for the Christmas and New Year.
He assured residents that the stability in the Nigerian economy with stable exchange rate and increase in foreign reserves will be sustained by President Bola Tinubu.
He explained that the focus of the President when he assumed office was the economy and after the positive economic signs, which he intends to sustain, the focus now will now be on security and we shall succeed and that will keep Nigeria on the rise.
The representative of Ikorodu Constituency II, Hon. (Dr.) Aro Moshood Abiodun, also extended his congratulations to the royal father and entire sons and daughters of Igbogbo on another celebration of Igbogbo Day.
Hon Aro commended the solidarity and unity among the Igbogbo people. The state lawmaker urged for its sustenance.
“There is no greater celebration than what we are witnessing today in Igbogbo. We must continue to come out like this to show love for each other because God always resides wherever there is love and unity,” Hon. Aro urged.
The celebration hosted several clubs, associations, societies, families, professional bodies and others. Some of these associations that added colours were the Aroyewun family, Achievers’ Crew, I – Heroes, iCare Foundation, DoingGood Team, All Progressives Congress (APC), Justice Forum, Market Men and Women and Artisans among others.
Other dignitaries at the celebration were Odofin Adewunmi Ogunsanya, SAN, Chairman, IDPIL and Baba Oba of Igbogbo Kingdom, Sen. Adeseye Ogunlewe, GAC chieftain, Asiwaju Kaoli Olusanya, Asiwaju of Ibeshe Kingdom, Sen. Tokunbo Abiru, Senator representing Lagos East represented by Mr Enitan Olukotun, Otunba Ganiyu Abiru, Executive Secretary, IDPIL, Hon. Adebimpe Akinsola, former Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dr Saheed Ibikunle, Permanent Member, LSUBEB, Hon. Nurudeen Solaja, former representative, Ikorodu Constituency II, Hon. Adedayo Ladega, Chairman, Ikorodu LG, Hon. Motunrayo Gbadebo – Alogba, Chairman, Ijede LCDA, Hon. Ameen Apanisile, Chairman, Ikorodu North LCDA, Hon. Sunday Benson Ayodele, Chairman, Imota LCDA, Hon. Azeez Owolabi Ogidan, Chairman, Coker/Aguda LCDA, Barr. Ade Ayeni, Vice Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku lcdaHon. Sesan Daini, former chairman, Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, Mrs Ngozi Okoli, Regional Manager, UBA PLC 6 Region, Prince Adesegun Ogunlewe, former Head of Service, Dr. Babatunde Ogunlaja, President IDEA, and Alhaji Sheriff Jinadu, Chairman, Igbogbo Day Planning Committee.
There were also traditional chiefs from Igbogbo, Ikorodu, Ibeshe, Ipakodo and other kingdoms.
