Culture

Senator Yayi Commends Ogun Governor’s Backing for Oronna Ilaro Festival

Published

10 months ago

November 16, 2025

Adeola Olamilekan Yayi praises Governor Abiodun’s strong support for tourism and highlights major development projects in Ogun West

Adeola Olamilekan Yayi has praised Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun for what he described as strong and purposeful support for tourism development across the state, especially through the promotion of the Oronna Ilaro Festival.

Also read: Ilaro Set for Grand Oronna Festival 2025

The senator said the government’s backing for cultural events continued to play a valuable role in the holistic growth of Ogun State.

Speaking at the 32nd edition of the festival, the senator commended the governor for strengthening tourism while also contributing to peace and infrastructural expansion.

He added that the governor’s interventions in security, roads, hospitals and education had helped stabilise the state and create a safer environment for residents.

The senator also expressed appreciation to the Olu Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle, noting that the monarch had sustained and expanded the festival since ascending the throne in 2012.

He said the cultural event had grown into an important annual attraction that deepened the identity of Yewaland.

Yayi highlighted his own contributions to Ogun West, stating that he had facilitated more than 300 infrastructure projects in two years. These, he said, included major road works, school buildings, health centres, markets, town halls, ICT centres, libraries and police stations.

He added that hundreds of electric transformers and solar lighting projects had been installed across communities facing persistent power outages.

The senator said he had empowered more than 50,000 constituents through skills training, equipment support and cash grants.

Market men and women, farmers and students had also benefited from targeted programmes ranging from bursaries and scholarships to agricultural inputs and machinery.

He noted that his legislative responsibilities had yielded significant outcomes, including the upgrade of the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro to the Federal University of Technology, Ilaro, now making the town a university community.

He reaffirmed his pledge to continue working with the governor in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Also read: Oronna Ilaro Festival 2025 Celebrates Heritage, Joy

Yayi said he remained committed to transforming Ogun West and reiterated his earlier promise to turn the district into what he called a “small London,” while maintaining that ongoing development efforts were steps towards that ambition.

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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.”