The 2025 Ojude Oba Festival which held on Sunday in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, was graced by eminent Nigerians including the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, as well as Governor Dapo Abiodun, who commended the festival organisers and main sponsor, Globacom, for making it a global tourist destination.
The colourful ceremony this year witnessed an unusually large turnout of tourists and art enthusiasts, most of whom came to the town owing to the repute that had gone ahead of the event. Globacom, major sponsor of Ojude Oba, added excitement to the day as it gave out brand new cars to two winners – one an outstanding member of Ijebu community and another who got lucky in the special 20th Glo sponsorship anniversary consumer promo organised exclusively for Ijebuland.
Mr. Opeoluwa Osisanwo who won the outstanding leadership prize had incidentally felt dizzy moments before his prize was announced owing to days of exhaustion as a result of activities preceding the festival.
Opeoluwa, Secretary of the festival planning committee was one of the two members of the Committee who was at the Ogun State Television on Thursday for a special commemorative interview about the event. He was revived and led away from the pavilion for fresh air but had to be stealthily led back after a few minutes to behold his surprise moment of honour.
A member of Egbe Tobalase Okunrin, Opeoluwa was adjudged the most outstanding young leader in Ijebuland who has served the community diligently for years as Secretary of the Ojude Oba Festival Planning Committee.
Said he, “I never knew people were watching me. I was just serving my land of birth to the best of my ability”, he said, while expressing appreciation to the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, and all members of the Committee “for allowing me to work with them not minding the fact that I am the youngest among them”.
The second winner, Mrs. Idowu Olabisi, a trader based in Ijebu Igbo, could not believe her eyes when she got the keys to the sleek Suzuki Celerio car that had just become hers. She disclosed that Globacom indeed gave her a spectacular gift at Eid period, as she had no inkling she would get such a car at this time.
Aside the cars, four tricycles (Keke) were won by other subscribers from within and around Ijebu. They were Hassan Toheeb, a businessman based in Ijebu Itele; Adenike Olanrewaju a Plank seller at Molipa, Ijebu Ode; Gazal Temitope, a trader who resides at Olisa, Ijebu Ode; and Lawal Tosin, a carpenter in Ijebu Ode.
