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.
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.
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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