As Ogun State prepares for the 2025 edition of the Ojude Oba Festival, the event will serve as a platform to renew the long-standing call for the creation of Ijebu State, with Ijebu-Ode as its proposed capital.
This was announced by the Chairman of the Ojude Oba Festival Organising Committee, Chief Olu Okuboyejo, during a press briefing held at the Awujale’s Palace in Ijebu-Ode on Monday. Represented by the festival coordinator, Dr Fassy Yusuff, Okuboyejo noted that the agitation for Ijebu State had reached its peak, urging widespread support for the cause.
“We are all familiar with the enduring demand for the creation of Ijebu State. Ijebu remains the only former province yet to be granted statehood, despite its strategic location, population size, accessibility, peaceful disposition, and rich cultural heritage that distinguish it from others,” he said.
“With the legislative process progressing steadily, we remain hopeful that the long-cherished dream of Ijebu State will soon become a reality,” he added.
He explained that the voices of Ijebu indigenes, through cultural groups such as the Regberegbe, Baloguns, Eleshins, Egbe Olojas and other traditional bodies, would once again be amplified at this year’s festival in support of the statehood agenda.
According to the committee, the annual cultural celebration is expected to draw nearly two million visitors to Ijebu land, with an estimated global viewership of 200 million through live streaming.
The theme for the 2025 festival is “Ojude Oba: Celebrating Our Roots, Preserving Our Future,” underscoring the Ijebu people’s unwavering commitment to preserving their cultural legacy.
Tracing the festival’s origins to the introduction of Islam in Ijebu land, Okuboyejo recalled how the monarch at the time had encouraged religious freedom. In appreciation, Muslim faithful began the tradition of paying homage to the king on the third day after Eid-el-Kabir—a gesture that has since evolved into the globally recognised Ojude Oba Festival.
Also Read:Â Oyo Government Honours Fuji Legend Ayinde Barrister at 2025 Egungun Festival
Over the years, the event has grown into a symbol of unity, embraced by Ijebu indigenes at home and abroad, as well as by admirers across Nigeria and beyond. Okuboyejo described the festival as Ijebu land’s cultural gift to the world, an enduring model of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
This year’s edition is scheduled to take place on Sunday, 8 June 2025, subject to the sighting of the moon.
The Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebu land, Oba Sikiru Adetona, is expected to unveil a distinguished guest of honour who will headline the event. Other notable attendees include Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, his wife, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, and the Minister of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Ms Hannatu Musawa.
Also speaking, the Ogun State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr Sesan Fagbayi, praised the festival as a shining example of cultural revitalisation and harmony. He affirmed that the state government is committed to making the 2025 edition a memorable and enriching experience.
