The President General, Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, CCII, Chief Yemi Soladoye has said that the rich tradition and cultural heritage of Ibadan town will be proudly showcased and celebrated during the 2018 edition of the annual Ibadan Cultural Festival week which commences today, Friday March 2, 2018 with a Jumat service at Ibadan central mosque, Oja’ba, Ibadan and other mosques in Ibadanland.
Soladoye in company of the Chairman Ibadan week 2018 cultural Festival Planning committee, Asiwaju Nurudeen Akinade, Publicity Secretary, Mr Ademola Alabi and the Marketing officer for the week, stated this while addressing some journalists at the Ibadan House in preparation for the annual festival celebration.
He disclosed that this year’s event is fully packaged to promote the beauty and tradition of the city.
His said, “we organise this celebration around this time when Oke’badan festival is being celebrated. The Aboke of Ibadan announced that this year’s sacrifice on Thursday, March 8, it is with this in mind that we’re starting our own celebration this Friday.
“This year we are taking it to a very high level. It is not going to be an assembly of Ibadan people, wining and dining, but we are showcasing our own tradition and culture in Ibadanland this time around. Part of it this year is the tradition of Ibadan people as regards marriage, entertainment, masquerades and as it is related to our dressing and food. These are the things we have packaged for this year’s celebrations.
“We also want it to be packaged in such a way that everybody will know up to the international level that Ibadan has its culture that we can actually export and which can contribute to tourism development in Nigeria.”
While disclosing the activities lined up for this year’s edition, the Chairman Ibadan week 2018 cultural Festival Planning committee, Akinade, noted that the week-long festival will run between Friday, March 2 to Saturday March 10, 2018, starting with a Jumat service at the Ibadan central mosque, Oja’ba and all other mosques in Ibadanland and diaspora wherever Ibadan indigenes are worshiping.
Other programmes, according to Akinade include visit to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Saliu Adetunji in convoy to also serve as and sensitisation rally on Saturday March 3; Sunday service also holds at the Christ Church Mapo, Ibadan and at every church in Ibadanland on Sunday, March 4 while a stage play in honour of a legend Baale in Ibadan, Ope Agbe who reigned between 1850-1851. The stage play is titled “Ope Agbe, Baale Ibadan” comes up at the Ibadan House, Oke-Aremo, by 3.00pm on Monday, March 5, 2018.
On Tuesday, March 6, at Ibadan House, there will be an award for business excellence at the Ibadan House by 10.00 a.m while the Federation of Ibadan Students Union (FIBSU) takes centre stage on Wednesday, March 7, for the ‘Ibadan Youths day FIBSU debate’ just as the award for patriotism comes up on Thursday, March 8 at the Obafemi Awolowo stadium, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. On Friday, March 9, at the Ibadan House, Oke-Aremo, the committee will host guests to Ibadan day conference event while the Cultural festival grand finale where over 150 socio-cultural clubs and societies, masquerades are expected to feature also at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, on Saturday, March 10.
