Indigenes of Igbodigo community home and abroad were in ecstatic mood on Saturday October 7th, 2017 when they celebrated the annual Egudu Day Festival and the 20th coronation anniversary of Oba John Ola Aiyeku, Akinyomi I, the Obagberume of Igbodigo town, Okitipupa local government area of Ondo State.
The occasion which also featured launching of 50million found raising for the community developmental projects, brought out the best in the people of the ancient town as they came out in their different traditional dresses of various make and colour to celebrate the triple events.
Addressing the people, the grand- host of the ceremony who also doubled as Chief Olowogboyega of the community, Dr. Iyiola Aiyeku, in his speech entitled: “Who and What Egudu Are” he congratulated Oba Aiyeku and the people of the community over the celebration.
He equally lauded them over various self-developmental efforts embarked upon by the indigenes of the town as well as the organising the annual Egudu day festival, noting that the celebration of the social event annually has assisted greatly in propelling the people towards self-development and unity.
Dr. Aiyeku, went through memory lane on the historical background of the ancient community, advocated the needs for cultural traditional revival in the town, the move which according to him would further foster more cultural development among the indigenes.
He equally advocated the needs for several indigenes of the town at home and in diaspora on the needs to embark cultural education among the youths and children in the town, saying the move would not only preserve the culture, norms and value of the community, but also prevent it from going into extinction.
Chief Olowogboyega used the occasion to enumerate various challenges facing the community which he mentioned to includes, lack of good roads, inadequate electricity supply, shortage of portable water supply, and lack of skill acquisition centre among others.
He called on the government to assist the community in tackling some of these challenges, however enjoined indigenes of the town especial those in diaspora to come and establish bossiness in the town as part of the move towards developing their hometown.
Earlier in his speech, the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, represented by the Commissioner for Education, Dr Femi Agagu, congratulated Oba Aiyeku over the celebration of his 20th coronation anniversary and the annual Egudu day festival.
The Governor who reiterated the determination of his administration to supports various communities within the state that embark on self-development projects, however urged the people to sustain the tempo of developmental instinct.
Akeredolu, equally appealed to the people for a greater support for his administration and assured them that he would continue to initiate new programmes that would help to improve their lots.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman of the Egudu day planning committee, High Chief Abiodun Ayetan, congratulated Oba Aiyeku, over his 20th coronation anniversary and expressed appreciation to all indigenes of the community, especially those that have made meaningful contributions to the luadable objectives of the Egudu Development Association. (EDA)
He used the occassion to pay a glowing tribute to members of the Egudu day 2017 planning committee for what he described as their positive contributions towards the development of the town, he emphasized the need for collective responsibility as a panacea to socio-economic, cultural and political underdevelopment in any society as the titled for this year public lecture earlier organised as part of the celebration.
While thanking the people of the community over his appointment as the chairman of this year Egudu day planning committee, explaining that the development has endeared him to exposed more to the complexities of the traditional administration of the ancient community.
He used the occasion to enumerate several projects that has been established in the community, since the inauguration of Oba Aiyeku as the 17th Obagberume of Igbodigo town which he mentioned to include massive expansion of social and economic infrastructures of the community such as the establishment of two Health Centers.
Other projects mentioned by him are, expansion and overlaying of major roads linking Igbodigo to other neighbouring communities, construction and fully equipped modern library of the only Community High School in the town, establishment of a Primary School in the community construction of a civic centre, as well as replacement of rustic electricity poles within the community to mention a few.
In his royal message, the Obagberume of Igbidigo town, Oba John Ola Aiyeku, a Justice of Peace (JP) expressed happiness over the celebration. He equally expressed appreciation to several indigenes of the community over their supports extended to him in the last twenty years, the development which he said has enabled him to initiate more development to the community.
The monarch reminded them of the need to continue to support his vision and aim of taking the community to a greater height and make it to be a pride of place among the other towns in the country.
Several indigenes of the community which includes, Chief Mrs. Janet Iyiola Aiyeku and the caretaker chairman of Okitipupa local government, Mrs. Morenike Alaka, congratulated Oba Aiyeku over the celebration and later made a valuable donations towards the development of the town.
The colorful celebration which was attended by eminent sons and daughters of the community, traditional rulers from various towns, held at the community civic centre located along Igbokoda road, featured cultural display, launching and musical interlude by a popular Ikale musician, Omotola Emaye and his Ugeli Biripo group.