Ota Residents To Celebrate Iganmode Annual Cultural Festival

Ota Residents To Celebrate Iganmode Annual Cultural Festival

LAGOS – The indigenes of Ota, Ogun state, are set to celebrate this year’s Iganmode annual cultural festival. This year’s event will be a week-long event, starting from Monday 13, December with Osugbo traditional prayer session, billed to take place at the Olota of Ota’s palace.

According to Aare Ayodele Bankole, chairman of the Central planning committee, who addressed a press conference on Wednesday, stated that part of the activities earmarked for the event include a free medical outreach programme for the aged and less privileged in the community. A youth summit is also scheduled to exhaust the vital topic of culture as a module for sustainable leadership in Nigeria.

The third day according to him will be used to display the rich cultural heritage of the town at the open ground of the Oba’s palace with notable dignitaries, visitors, sons and daughters of the town expected to grace the occasion. The day following the colourful display of Ota’s cultural heritage will be used to install new chiefs at the Olota’s palace, while the grand finale of the week-long event will take place at the Saint Michaels and Asarudeen Primary school grounds on Saturday.

The event will be rounded off with special Jumat prayers on Friday at Ota central mosque and a special thanksgiving service at the Faith Tabernacle, Winners Chapel, Ota on Sunday.

Speaking about the cultural festival, Oba Prof. Adeyemi Obalanlege, Olota of Ota, said, “The annual celebration of the Iganmode cultural festival demonstrates our resolve to preserve our cultural values and heritage for the generation oncoming. You will see from the theme of this year’s celebration, which is culture: Module for Sustainable Leadership is apt in addressing the country’s leadership challenges. We hope to transmit to the coming generation our cultural values which has the capacity to positively impact on their mindset.

“You will agree with me that Ota kingdom occupies a very important place in Ogun state’s ecosystem, with its rich historical and cultural heritage coupled with its position as home to many industries and companies, providing jobs and income to our teeming population.

“I therefore call on the state government to encapsulate the Iganmode cultural festival in the cultural calendar of the state, like the Oju-Ode Oba festival and others. The government should also help in the repair of our roads, while as a people we shall remain loyal citizens of the state, contributing our quota in terms of taxes, providing political support and maintaining law and order.” Oba Adeyemi added.