Digital solutions company, Globacom, marked a grand 20th anniversary of its sponsorship of the yearly Ojude Oba festival on Sunday in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, by presenting cars, tricycles, power generators and other items to Ijebu sons and daughters.
The beautiful event was graced by the Governor of Ogun State, Chief Dapo Abiodun, the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism & Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa-Musawa and Olorogun Sunny Kuku, the Ogbeni Oja of Ijebuland, among other guests.
The event was a parade of colour and great display by the almost 100 different Regberegbe groups who were competing to outshine each other in appearance, prominence and splendour.
Equally, the Balogun families also displayed the hallmark of warriors with their dexterity in guiding their horses as they all paraded to honour the age-long yearly tradition of paying obeisance to the Awujale of Ijebu land after the Eid celebrations.
The Governor, in his goodwill message at the event, poured encomium on the over six decades reign of the Awujale as that of “purposeful leadership, progressive vision and unwavering commitment to the upliftment of Ijebuland and the entire Ogun State”, while Barrister Musawa, described the festival as a shinning testament of the “richness of our cultural diversity and the resilience of our traditional institutions in preserving history for future generations.”
Globacom also turned the event, its 20th consecutive sponsorship, into a huge opportunity to reward various segments of the Ijebu society. It distributed the top-of-the-grade Basmati rice to all the various Regberegbes as a way of celebrating them.
Several winners also carted home mouth-watering prizes, including two brand new cars, Four Tricycles and others choice items, including Power Generating sets, grinding Machines and Sewing Machines.
One winner of a brand new car was chosen by the Ijebu society through a nomination process that saw 52-year-old Opeoluwa Osisanwo receiving the keys to a brand new car at the event.
Opeoluwa, a member of Egbe Tobalase Okunrin, was adjudged the most outstanding young leader in Ijebuland who has served the community diligently for years as Secretary of the Ojude Oba Festival Planning Committee.
In his words: “I never knew people were watching me. I was just serving my land of birth to the best of my ability”.
He expressed appreciation to the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, and all members of the Committee “for allowing me to work with them not minding the fact that I am the youngest among them”.
The other winner of a brand new car, who emerged through an airtime usage-based promo, Idowu Olabisi, a trader based in Ijebu Igbo, was ecstatic after receiving the keys and danced to express her joy.
She said that Glo indeed gave her a spectacular gift at Eid period, as she had no inkling she would get such a car at this time.
Four brand new Tricycles (Keke) were also carted home by various winners from within and around Ijebu. The winners included Hassan Toheeb, a businessman based in Ijebu Itele; Adenike Olanrewaju a Plank seller at Molipa, Ijebu Ode; Gazal Temitope, a trader who resides at Olisa, Ijebu Ode; and Lawal Tosin, a carpenter in Ijebu Ode.
