Thousands of cultural enthusiasts, tourists, dignitaries, and sons and daughters of Ijebuland on Friday converged on Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, for the 2026 Ojude-Oba Festival, turning the ancient town into a colourful display of tradition, fashion, and cultural heritage.
The annual festival featured spectacular horse-riding processions, traditional music, and elegant outings by various Regberegbe groups dressed in richly embroidered attires, reaffirming the festival’s status as one of Africa’s foremost cultural celebrations.
Speaking at the event, Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, described Ojude-Oba as a symbol of peaceful coexistence, communal harmony, and cultural sophistication.
Abiodun said his administration had positioned the festival as a key part of the state’s tourism development agenda in a bid to harness its cultural and economic potential.
According to him, the state government is working with stakeholders to expand the festival’s global visibility while preserving the traditions and heritage of the Ijebu people.
“We are building a state that honours its heritage because culture is not only our identity, but also a source of social cohesion and economic opportunity,” the governor said.
“This is why we have positioned Ojude-Oba as a flagship within our tourism development agenda. Today, the economic impact of the festival is visible everywhere as hotels are fully occupied, businesses are flourishing, artisans are engaged, and our youths are being productively empowered.”
The governor noted that the 2026 edition was particularly significant as it marked the first Ojude-Oba celebration since the passing of the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona.
He described the late monarch as an institution whose 65-year reign transformed traditional leadership and elevated Ijebuland culturally, socially, and politically.
“This year’s Ojude-Oba Festival carries profound significance. It is the first celebration since the glorious transition of our revered monarch, Oba Sikiru Adetona, whose remarkable reign shaped and transformed the institution of traditional rulership in Nigeria,” he stated.
Abiodun said the late monarch had insisted before his death that nothing should stop the celebration of Ojude-Oba, stressing that the festival must continue to thrive as a unifying cultural institution.
The governor also commended President Bola Tinubu for supporting the people of Ijebuland during the transition period following the monarch’s demise, saying the President’s intervention helped sustain peace and stability in the kingdom.
He urged Nigerians to remember victims of insecurity across the country and prayed for families affected by violence and banditry.
Abiodun further praised the organisers, Regberegbe groups, and the people of Ijebuland for preserving the kingdom’s cultural heritage and ensuring the successful hosting of the festival despite the transition period.
According to him, Ojude-Oba has evolved from a post-Eid homage-paying gathering into one of Africa’s most admired cultural festivals embraced by people across different faiths and backgrounds.
“Today, Ojude-Oba stands as a symbol of unity, honour, continuity, and cultural pride where visitors from across the world gather to witness the splendour of our traditions, the elegance of our attire, and the discipline of the age-grade groups,” he added.
Chairman of the Ojude-Oba Planning Committee, Chief Olu Okubadejo, described the festival as a celebration of unity and continuity that reconnects sons and daughters of Ijebuland with their roots and identity.
He noted that this year’s edition was emotional and historic as it was the first celebration since the demise of Oba Adetona, whose reign brought global recognition to Ijebuland.
Among dignitaries at the event were the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele; Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; Minister of State for Health, Dr Isiaq Salako; former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba; traditional rulers; captains of industry; and religious leaders.
