By Lukman Omikunle
…as Ipapo Descendants Union marks its golden jubilee
The 2022 edition of the festival was painstakingly organized to further promote and showcase the ancient town’s economic potential and investment opportunities
The Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde, and the Deputy Governor, Barrister Adebayo Lawal are among the top dignitaries expected to grace the grand finale of the 2022 edition of Ipapo Day, an annual cultural festival of the ancient town in the Oke-Ogun area of the state.
OKe-Ogun’s revered monarch, Oba Yekeen Ademola Abioye II, the Eleyinpo of Ipapo, is the chief host of the much-anticipated event scheduled to hold on Saturday, November 5, 2022.
Moshood Adebisi, head of media publicity of the Central Planning Committee made this known in a statement signed and made available to newsheadline247.
According to the statement, the 2022 edition of the festival was painstakingly organized to further promote and showcase the ancient town’s economic potential and investment opportunities adding that Oba Abioye has passionately appealed to Nigerians and expatriates to see the town as a prime investment hub.
Some of the highlighted enthralling activities lined up to commemorate the much-talk-about festival include chieftaincy conferment, religious interdenominational services, cultural and traditional events among others.
Read the full statement below…
The Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde, and the Deputy Governor, Barrister Adebayo Lawal are among dignitaries being expected at the finale of Ipapo Day 2022 celebrations and the Golden Jubilee of the town’s central association, the Ipapo Descendants Union.
The grand event, God willing, takes place on Saturday November 5, 2022 after a series of week-long activities like conferment of chieftaincy titles on distinguished individuals(indigenes and non indigenes); football matches; quiz competitions; religious interdenominational services among others.
Ipapo Day event has over the years brought about reunion and unification of Ipapo sons and daughters, both at home and in the Diaspora. This year’s event will however go a step further; to showcase the ancient town’s economic potential and investment opportunities.
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Ipapo, an ancient town in Itesiwaju Local Government area of Oyo State, is a fast- growing community that has benefitted immensely from its central geographical location, vast land resources, rich agricultural base and amiable people.
Ipapo today is a commercial centre that plays key economic role among neighbouring towns, villages and hamlets.
The Ipapo monarch, the Eleyinpo of Ipapo, Oba Yekeen Ademola Abioye II, has passionately appealed to Nigerians and expatriates to see the town as a prime investment location.
Oba Abioye in a speech appealed to those he described as blessed individuals to “come and invest in Ipapo because it is peaceful, hospitable, conducive, friendly, accommodating” and most importantly “accessible to the cities”
The President of IDU, Alhaji Jimoh Adebayo, urged the indigenes of Ipapo and Okeogun in general not to abandon their rich tradition and language. “The abandonment of our age-long traditions is the major reason why we are far behind other nations in terms of development and growth.” He added, “All developed nations of the world today: America; Britain; China; India etc have their traditions as the solid basis of their development.
While speaking on the event, the Chairman, Ipapo Day Planning Committee, Dr Adeola Adepoju, who had emphasised the rich history of the town, assured the natives of the town and the guests of adequate preparations, particularly concerning security and logistics. He said his committee had been working in collaboration with security operatives in the area.
Signed
Moshood Adebisi
Head, Media/Publicity Committee
