Oyo State is set to witness a historic event as preparations intensify for the coronation of Iku Baba Yeye, Alaafin Abimbola Owoade, scheduled for Saturday, April 5, 2025.
The grand occasion will be preceded by a series of cultural, intellectual, and social activities spanning from March 31 to April 12, 2025, aimed at celebrating the rich traditions and heritage of the Oyo Kingdom.
The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) has unveiled an elaborate program designed to highlight the significance of the event.
According to the LOC, the festivities will commence on Monday, March 31, with a Cultural Carnival Parade at 7:30 am, followed by the Opening Ceremony to be conducted by the Honourable Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun.
The Oba Adeyemi Mini Stadium, Oke Aremo, will serve as the main venue for exhibitions, which will run from March 31 to April 4.
As part of the pre-coronation events, activities focused on environmental conservation and academia will take place on Tuesday, April 1.
The Historic Tree Planting Phase I is scheduled for 7:30 am, followed by a Public Lecture and Colloquium at the Federal School of Surveying, Oyo, where Professors Anthony Asiwaju, Akin Alao, and Siyan Oyeweso are expected to speak.
On Wednesday, April 2, the celebrations will continue with the Coronation Quiz Competition, chaired by esteemed academic Prof. Mrs. Bokalale Awe, alongside the second phase of the tree planting initiative.
Sports will also play a role in the festivities as the Coronation Football Competition Final is scheduled for Thursday, April 3. On the same day, the commissioning of community projects in honor of Hon. Prince Akeem will take place.
Cultural displays will take center stage on Friday, April 4, which has been designated as Oyo Cultural Heritage Day. A major highlight of the day will be the command performance of “Aremo Aderonmu”, a play written by Gbemi Fafati, at the Ajayi Crowther University Theatre at 5:00 pm.
The coronation of Oba Akeem Abimbola Owode on Saturday, April 5, is expected to attract dignitaries from across the country.
The event, which will feature traditional rites, royal processions, and various cultural performances, will take place at multiple designated venues in Oyo.
Among the selected locations are OBHSO’s Field, which will be reserved for high-ranking officials and distinguished guests, Ladigbolu Grammar School, Oyo, expected to accommodate 5,000 attendees, Platinum Hotel, Oyo, reserved for VIPs, as well as N.A. Town School, Isale Oyo, Oba Adeyemi Mini Stadium, Oke Aremo, and Old Oyo National Park, which will host cultural and tourism-related activities.
Post-coronation festivities will continue with a Christian Thanksgiving Service at St. Michael Anglican Cathedral, Esile, on Sunday, April 6. A community-focused initiative, which includes a Free Eye Test and Glasses Distribution, will take place on Monday, April 7, in commemoration of the new reign.
Traditional religious observances will be marked on Wednesday, April 9, during the Isure Ati Idupe Fun Alaafin Abimbola Owode II of Orisa Worshippers, set to be held at the Esu Arasene Shrine, Akesan, Oyo. This will be followed by a Special Coronation Jumat Prayer at the Central Mosque, Oja, Oyo, on Friday, April 11.
The final event in the coronation lineup will be the Special Thanksgiving Service of the Isese/Orisa Worshippers, scheduled for Saturday, April 12, at Ije Fa Adimula, Oja Compound, Oke Apo, Oyo.
As excitement builds across Oyo State, the LOC has urged residents and visitors to actively participate in the celebrations.
A representative of the committee described the coronation as a significant moment in history, stating, “This coronation is more than just an event; it is the preservation of our heritage and the reaffirmation of our identity. We invite everyone to witness history in the making.”
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