Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, the Alake of Egbaland, has commended the efforts of Otunba Gani Adams, the Chief Convener of Olokun Festival Foundation, for his contributions toward the revival of the cultural heritage of the Yoruba race.
Ola Gbadebo made this statement at the palace during the grand finale of the week-long activities marking the 30th Anniversary of Lisabi Festival.
He said: “I want to commend Otunba Gani Adams for his immense contribution towards the success of Olumo Festival for two days.
“He came there with about 10,000 of his men.
“He organised different activities, which added colour to the event.
“He has been doing this consistently for the past three years.
“God will continue to bless you.”
The event, which was graced by eminent sons and daughters of Egbaland, also had Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State and his cabinet members in attendance.
During his speech, Governor Amosun too said: “I want to specially thank my friend and brother, Otunba Gani Adams, for supporting this festival.
“You are highly appreciated.”
Prior to the Olumo Festival, Miss Olumo Beauty Pageant held at the Centenary Hall, Ake, Abeokuta on March 4 , 2016.
In a keenly contested competition, 19-year-old Nneka Sunday, a 200 Level Business Administration student of Federal School of Statistics, Ibadan, Oyo State, emerged as Miss Olumo 2016.
Kehinde Kujore, a 200 Level Economics undergraduate of the National Open University and Mosunmola Omotayo, 300 Level Political Science student of Olabisi Onabanjo University, emerged the first and second runners up respectively.
The star prize, a saloon car, was presented to the queen during the Olumo Festival by Oba Gbadebo at an event where fuji icon, Sefiu Alao, entertained.
The first and second runners up got N75,000 and N50,000 respectively.
Adams, in his speech, said the importance of the Olumo Festival cannot be over-emphasized.
He said: “Much as the Egba people and the Yoruba in general recognize the heroic contribution of Lisabi to the development of Abeokuta, the Olumo Rock also has a very adorable place in the history of the Egba people.
“The annual celebration of the Olumo Festival as part of the Lisabi Day celebration has provided a very veritable platform for sons and daughters of Egba descent to come together and project the uniqueness of what mature bequeathed on them.
“My observations since I arrived in Abeokuta, and which I have also observed in the last few years, have shown that the Egba people really relish the importance of this festival.
“The continuous support of the traditional ruler of this ancient town, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, is a clear indication of the wide acceptance of this celebration.
“Let me at this point commend our traditional rulers from the different parts of Yorubaland for the new found love and cordial relationship among them.
“I was highly elated with reports of the courtesy visits to different traditional rulers in Yorubaland by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi.
“The new relationship between our traditional rulers is no doubt a right step in the right direction for the development of Yorubaland.
“The custodian of our tradition, as the Obas are referred to, have set a path for Yoruba sons and daughters to follow.
“I also want to encourage our governors and other public office holders to learn from our traditional leaders by uniting to form a unified ground for the development of the Yoruba region.
“In the past, especially during the reign of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo of blessed memory, the Yoruba region was the model for development in other regions.
“Leaders from other regions in Nigeria were copying the developmental stride of Baba Awolowo and Yorubaland was at the centre stage.
“Let us all have it at the back of our hearts that the Lisabi and Olumo Festivals are not just for the acrobatic dances.
“The Olumo Festicval is not just for us to come and showcase our new hair styles, our new clothes.
“Far from all these.
“The festival is designed to first of all promote the cultural value of the Egba people and that of the Yoruba in general.
“We should also note that the essence of this celebration is for foster unity and a common ground for Lisabi Agbongbo Akala.
“It is expected that the festival will provide an indomitable forum for the different towns in Abeokuta to come together and be united.
“The people of Egba should also play a very crucial role in the emancipation of the Yoruba people.
“Lisabi was referred as Agbongbo Akala and he was renowned for his heroic bravery that liberated the Egba people.
“It is also of concern to me that our language is gradually going into extinction.
“Our organization, the Olokun Festival Foundation, has over the last few years been at the forefront of promoting the Yoruba language.
“As part of our efforts to inculcate the teaching of Yoruba language in our children, we introduced the Yoruba quiz competition as part of the programme in our festivals.
“It is my passionate appeal to our governors, traditional rulers and well-meaning Yoruba sons and daughters to let us unite and find a way to revive the dying Yoruba language.
“Let us formulate policies that will aid the teaching and learning of Yoruba language.
“Let us look at ideas and way through which our language can become fascinating and encouraging to students.
“Until a few years ago, the site of the Olumo Rock was for a long time neglected by past successive government in Ogun State.
“There is a very strong need for our government and the people of Yorubaland to develop out historical site into world class tourism centre.”
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