Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, on Tuesday, gave reason for the unveiling and transformation of the annual Olokun Festival to the Olokun World Festival, saying that the Olokun Festival Foundation (OFF) led by him was resolved to make Badagry the world’s tourists’ destination and a replica of the Papaya tourist spot in Thailand.
Iba Adams made this known while speaking at the grand finale of the 2024 Edition of the Olokun Festival, which took place at Suntan Beach, Badagry, Lagos, describing the 2024 Edition of the Olokun Festival as historic as it marked the beginning of a new chapter in the life of the organisation.
According to the Yoruba generalissimo, who is also the Chief Promoter of the Olokun Festival Foundation, the week-long activities of the festival climaxed with the new initiative, adding that OFF had the support and blessing of the Akran of Badagry, Oba De Wheno Aholu Toyi and other stakeholders of the ancient town to advance the cause of promoting the annual cultural fiesta beyond the shores of Nigeria.
Adams, while emphasising the need for cultural rejuvenation, said the organisation under his leadership was breaking new ground in its “cultural promotion activities as this festival will be unveiled as Olokun World Festival,” just as he assured that OFF was resolved to make Badagry the world’s tourists’ destination and a replica of the Papaya tourist spot in Thailand.
“Today, we are breaking new ground in our cultural promotion activities as this festival will be unveiled as Olokun World Festival
“We started the journey exactly 22 years ago today in Alpha Beach, and today, being Tuesday, October 22, is an important date in the calendar of Olokun Festival.
“And for us as an organisation, this is going to be a big step in our desire to drive our cultural promotion programmes beyond the shores of Nigeria,” Iba Adams stated.
“It will also earn the Foundation global respect as it opens a window of opportunities for Badagry to attract tourists and investors from all over the world.
“Today is our projection to explore the tourism potential of Badagry,” he added.
Adams said that towards that end, the Foundation proposed to build a mini-stadium in Badagry and a world-standard hotel with over 300 rooms for accommodations and luxuries, as well as three different halls for conferences, among others.
“We intend to build a mini-stadium here in Badagry.It is our plan also to have our permanent site here in Badagry, where we build a world-standard hotel near the Olokun—a hotel of global standard with over 300 rooms for accommodations and luxuries as well as three different halls for conferences—and even, all these are our projections and future plans in Badagry,” he said.
Chairman of the Planning Committee of the 2024 Olokun Festival, Barrister Yinka Oguntimehin, in his own remark, said the success recorded with the grand finale was a result of efforts being put in by all members of the committee.
He acknowledged the fatherly role of Iba Adams, being the Chief Promoter of Olokun Festival Foundation (OFF), in making it possible, even as he equally appreciated the guests for finding time to be part of the success story.
Oguntimehin applauded the turnout at this year’s event, which he said was well over 50,000, witnessing the attendance of more than 50 traditional rulers from Lagos, Badagry, and the Republic of Benin, among others.
The Akran of Badagry, Oba De Wheno Aholu Toyi, was represented by five prominent Obas from the ancient town, including the Aholu of Akarakumo, Oba Nunayon Awogbemi Travil, the Aholu of Yafin Kingdom, and Oba Dr. Abiodun Whedoku Patinvoh, among others.
The Royal Father of the Day, who is also the Olowu of Owu Kuta, Osun State, Oba Adekunle Oyelude Makama, praised Iba Adams for the new initiative, saying that the traditional institution under the Yoruba Obas would continue to support initiatives that were tailored towards the progress of Yoruba land.
Other monarchs in attendance were the Oniladaba of Ladaba Kingdom, Oba Nureni Ebudola Odedina Alugbin; the Onirokun of Irokun Kingdom, Oba Buhari Ola Balogun; and the Onimapara of Mapara Kingdom, Oba Lateef Amodemaja, among others.
Also present were members of the Aareonakakanfo Chiefs-in-Council, the National Executive Council (NEC), the National Coordinating Council (NCC) of OPC, and members from across the country.
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