* Festival of Surgeries to supply medical interventions for beneficiaries
* Americans, different distinguished personalities to obtain chieftaincy titles
Sunday Aborisade in Abuja
The historic Ondo Kingdom in Ondo State is about to have fun the 20th anniversary of the coronation of its paramount ruler, the Osemawe of Ondo, Oba Victor Adesimbo Kiladejo, with an elaborate programme of cultural, medical, instructional and neighborhood improvement actions.
The celebrations, organised by the Ondo Development Committee (ODC), will function a significant medical intervention tagged the ‘Festival of Surgeries’, cultural performances, an inter-school debate competitors, a public lecture, an artwork exhibition, a golf event and the disclosing and inauguration of legacy improvement initiatives.
The actions, that are anticipated to run till December 24, 2026, will culminate within the annual Ekimogun Day Festival on December 26, offering a chance for indigenes, residents and mates of the dominion to have fun its wealthy cultural heritage and mirror on its improvement trajectory.
The anniversary is themed, ’20 Years of Unprecedented Peace and Development in Ondo Kingdom’.
A serious spotlight of the celebrations would be the conferment of conventional chieftaincy titles on two distinguished Americans, media persona, Sway Calloway and famend American music trade govt and cultural advocate, Leila Steinberg, alongside different distinguished personalities.
The two Americans will obtain the normal honours in recognition of their accomplishments and contributions, whereas deserving little children of Ondo Kingdom can even be recognised for achievements which have introduced honour to the traditional kingdom.
Former Vice-Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Professor Femi Mimiko, who’s now the High Chief Lisa (elect) of Ondo Kingdom, is chairman of the committee planning and organising the anniversary celebrations.
Mimiko introduced the graduation of the anniversary programme in an announcement issued on October 22 however made accessible to journalists on Sunday on behalf of the planning committee.
According to the assertion, 2026 marks twenty years since Oba Kiladejo ascended the throne of his forefathers in 2006.
The ODC, below the chairmanship of Chief Oye Akinsulire, initiated the anniversary actions to have fun the milestone within the monarch’s reign, showcase the dominion’s cultural id and spotlight its social, financial and neighborhood improvement aspirations.
Other members of the planning committee embrace Chief Wole Benson Akinkuolie, the Itagbuyi of Ondo Kingdom, and Dr Nelson Osungbemiro of Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo City.
Mimiko stated the anniversary was conceived not merely as a celebration of the monarch’s twenty years on the throne but in addition as a chance for the folks of Ondo, each at dwelling and within the diaspora, to mirror on their collective historical past, achievements and aspirations.
Another main attraction would be the ‘Festival of Surgeries’, a medical outreach programme impressed by the monarch’s skilled background as a medical physician and his longstanding curiosity within the well being and welfare of his folks.
The initiative is anticipated to supply medical interventions for beneficiaries and draw consideration to the significance of accessible healthcare in the neighborhood.
The organisers stated the medical programme was among the many anniversary’s sensible interventions designed to translate the celebration into tangible advantages for the folks, fairly than confining it to ceremonial actions.
In the training sector, the anniversary will function inter-school debate competitions involving instructional establishments throughout Ondo Kingdom.
The competitors is designed to supply college students with a platform to exhibit their mental skills, develop essential considering and interact with points affecting their fast surroundings and society.
A public lecture can even carry collectively lecturers, conventional rulers, professionals and different stakeholders to look at the historical past, improvement and future prospects of the traditional kingdom.
The cultural element will function an elaborate fiesta showcasing the traditions, customs and distinctive heritage of the Ekimogun folks.
A golf event can also be scheduled to carry on the Nibanola Motherland Resort and Golf Course in Ondo City, including sporting actions to the programme.
As a part of efforts to protect the dominion’s historical past and doc the monarch’s contributions, the organisers will produce a documentary tracing Ondo’s social evolution and conventional establishments.
A compendium of Oba Kiladejo’s speeches and a commemorative brochure can even be unveiled to chronicle important developments and milestones throughout his 20-year reign.
An artwork exhibition that includes works by distinguished Nigerian artists will additional showcase the dominion’s cultural heritage and supply a platform for celebrating creative creativity.
Beyond the cultural and ceremonial actions, the anniversary can be marked by the disclosing and graduation of legacy improvement initiatives meant to ship lasting advantages to the folks.
The organisers disclosed that a minimum of one of many initiatives was anticipated to be accomplished and inaugurated earlier than the tip of the 12 months, whereas groundbreaking ceremonies would even be performed for different initiatives.
Another important function can be a city corridor assembly tagged ‘A Day with Osemawe’, which can present residents with a chance to work together instantly with the monarch.
The engagement is anticipated to strengthen the connection between the normal establishment and the folks by offering a platform for residents from totally different backgrounds to change views with the royal father on points affecting the dominion.
The programme can even function thanksgiving companies at chosen locations of worship representing totally different non secular and denominational teams in Ondo Kingdom.
The planning committee has known as on little children of the dominion, neighborhood associations, alumni teams, skilled organisations, market women and men, instructional establishments, youth teams and different stakeholders to take part actively within the celebrations.
The assertion famous that Ondo Kingdom had a recorded monarchical historical past spanning 516 years, describing the continuity of its conventional establishment as proof of the resilience, cultural id and enduring heritage of the folks.
It added that the anniversary would carry collectively indigenes and residents to have fun their widespread heritage, strengthen communal relationships and renew their collective dedication to the dominion’s improvement.
The organisers stated the celebrations would finish on December 24, forward of the annual Ekimogun Day Festival scheduled for Saturday, December 26, 2026.
