Culture

Ojude Oba Festival boosts tourism, youth enterprise, cultural identity in Ogun

Published

1 year ago

June 10, 2025

Governor Dapo Abiodun pledges to scale up Ojude Oba Festival as a cultural and economic asset, highlighting its role in tourism, youth engagement, and entrepreneurship

Ojude Oba Festival has become a strategic platform for promoting tourism, youth empowerment, and cultural entrepreneurship, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun declared on Sunday at the 2025 edition of the event in Ijebu-Ode.

Also read: Ojude Oba Festival: Unpacking the deeper meanings of Nigeria’s cultural jewel

The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to scaling up the festival’s socio-economic impact and global reach.

“This festival has outgrown its current scope. We must take bold steps to scale it up,” Abiodun stated, adding that cultural celebrations like Ojude Oba are vital instruments for economic growth and international visibility.

He described Ojude Oba Festival as a symbol of harmony, where religion, tradition, and modernity coexist under a shared identity. “It is now a vibrant fulcrum of our culture—our pride, our values, and our continuity,” he said.

Highlighting the festival’s 2025 theme, Celebrating Our Roots, Preserving Our Future, the governor said the event aligns perfectly with his administration’s “Building Our Future Together” agenda.

“Festivals like Ojude Oba are critical to our vision of promoting the local economy, attracting global attention, and fortifying our cultural capital. Our cultural heritage is a powerful tool for national development,” Abiodun noted.

He called for structured expansion to accommodate its rising influence among young people at home and in the diaspora.

In his goodwill message, Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, represented by Deputy Governor Olayide Adelani, hailed the festival’s capacity to generate jobs, promote peace, and attract foreign investment.

“Culture is a dynamic vehicle that drives economic growth,” Adelani said. “Ojude Oba creates real opportunities for local enterprise.”

Hon. Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts, praised Nigeria’s rich cultural diversity and reaffirmed the Federal Government’s support for state-led cultural development.

“Ogun holds a significant place in Nigeria’s history through its contributions from illustrious sons and daughters. It is time we fully explored what culture can offer our country,” she said.

The minister expressed optimism that the Ojude Oba Festival would continue to grow, becoming a major magnet for international tourists.

Also read: Globacom celebrates 20 years sponsoring Ojude Oba with star-studded kickoff

The annual celebration, held two days after Eid-el-Kabir, features colourful parades, traditional regalia, and age-grade performances that honour the Awujale of Ijebuland and showcase the depth of Yoruba cultural traditions.

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Culture

WAKE UP! Art Exhibition Returns for a Second Act

Published

2 weeks ago

August 27, 2026

Mariam Balogun

The contemporary art and photography exhibition “Wake Up!” is back again for a second edition.

Curated by Awele Onwordi, Wake Up! 2 exhibition pays homage to the Nigerian youth and burgeoning street culture which many of its contributing artists reference in their works.

Also read: Five rising stars battle for 2026 Headies Next Rated

Titled “Young, Wild, Free”, the exhibition celebrates the creativity, resilience, freedom and cultural influence found in Nigerian youth.

Taking aim at societal issues and economic concerns, the exhibit reflects the youth and their refusal to compromise or bow despite all the challenges stacked against them while charting youth culture through art, music, fashion, skateboarding, photography and community.

The exhibition will be held, once again, at the Angel and Muse Gallery at 25 Sumbo Jibowu street off Ribadu Road off Awolowo Road in Ikoyi.

It will open on Saturday 5 September 2026 and will run until 11 September 2026
This second edition which focuses on celebrating, nurturing and exploring artistic practices rooted in youth and street culture will feature works from DENCITY and SUPERGLIDER HOUSE.

Exhibiting artists include Ajilore Kehinde – their work is deeply influenced by Nigerian street culture and works of other artists like Slawn, Peters Ejiro, etc, Chuka Onwordi – graphic designer who embodies themes of death, melancholy and beauty in his works, ZIDYEP – Abuja based creative whose works move between digital and physical spaces through art, graphic design and air brushing , Franklyn Okoye – graphic designer and artist whose works explore themes of identity and hyper-reality, Awele Onwordi – founder & curator of WAKE UP and multidisciplinary artist whose practice spans character art, creative logo design, album covers and more , Oluchi Kogolo – digital illustrator whose work explores street culture, personality and storytelling through a raw and playful visual style and Kozetuo Apeji – multidisciplinary artists who work explores experimental approaches to problem solving through both digital and traditional art forms.

Commenting on the exhibition in her curatorial statement, Awele noted that “despite economic instability, limited opportunities and socio-political challenges, Nigerian youth continue to shape culture through music, fashion, art, skateboarding, raves, photography and community.”

Also read: Five rising stars battle for 2026 Headies Next Rated

Continuing and harping on the raison d’etre of the exhibition she said, “Young, Wild and Free exists to celebrate Nigerian youth while also creating a platform that supports and amplifies them.”