Culture, colours, heritage dazzle at 2026 Ojude-Oba Festival as Abiodun celebrates unity

Ijebu-Ode transformed into a dazzling panorama of color and tradition as the 2026 Ojude-Oba Festival unfolded on Friday. Men, women, and youths adorned in richly embroidered attire joined cultural enthusiasts for the annual celebration, which featured spectacular horse-riding processions and rhythmic traditional music. The event reaffirmed Ojude-Oba's status as a premier African cultural festival, drawing visitors from across Nigeria and the diaspora.

Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun lauded the festival as a potent symbol of peaceful coexistence and cultural sophistication. He stated that his administration is actively promoting the festival as a cornerstone of the state's tourism development agenda, aiming to leverage its significant cultural and economic potential. The governor emphasized that the state government is collaborating with stakeholders to enhance the festival's global reach while safeguarding the authentic heritage of the Ijebu people.

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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. 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.

"We are building a state that honors its heritage because culture is not only our identity, but also a source of social cohesion and economic opportunity," Governor Abiodun declared. He noted the festival's tangible economic impact, with hotels fully booked, businesses thriving, and artisans actively engaged. This year's festival held particular significance as the first since the passing of the revered Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, whose 65-year reign profoundly shaped traditional leadership.

Governor Abiodun paid tribute to the late monarch, describing him as an institution. He relayed that the Awujale had wished for the Ojude-Oba celebration to continue without hindrance, underscoring its importance as a unifying cultural institution. The governor also acknowledged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's support during the transition period following the monarch's demise, stating that the President's assistance helped maintain peace and stability.

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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.