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Tag: Ojaja II

  • Ambode, Ooni of Ife, others for ‘My Heritage My Pride’, Sisi Oge 2018

     

    All is now set for the 11th edition of the Annual most exclusive cultural event “My Heritage, My Pride & Sisi Oge”, Africa’s biggest most exclusive Cross-cultural Event & Award Festival

    The Awards, a brain child of Heritage Solutions, will hold at the Federal Palace Hotel, (Balmoral Convention Centre) Victoria Island, Lagos, on Sunday, April 15, 2018.

    Chief Host of the event and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode will lead other top dignitaries including Royal Father of the Day, His Imperial Majesty, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, Ooni of Ife; Special Guest of Honour and Executive Governor of Imo State Excellency, Owelle Rochas Okorocha; Chief Mrs. Nike Okundaye and a host of members of the Diplomatic Corp and Ambassadors.

    Convener of the event, Mr. Idris Aregbe said this year’s edition would be bigger and better than the 10th Anniversary held last year.

    He said the event would feature series of varieties that would see the amalgamation of cultures from the continents of Africa, Asia, Americas and Europe, which according to him would be an exciting memory of a lifetime!

    “It’s time to brace up for an unprecedented, awesome experience, as we bring you mind-blowing cross-cultural line up events from: Awards, Art Exhibition, Fashion Show, Music, Dance Drama, Cultural Pageant and Festival,” he said.

    Aregbe said awardees for this year’s edition would include several local and international personalities who have distinguished themselves and have become a force to reckon with across Africa.

    He said the highlight of the event would also be star performances by local and international guests who will thrill guests at the ceremony.

    He said unlike the previous 10 editions held at the Civic Centre, this year’s edition would hold at the Federal Palace Hotel Balmoral Convention centre to accommodate the anticipated large turnout.

    The Heritage Solution Awards and My Heritage My Pride is powered by No. 1 Heritage Solutions and is proudly supported by the Lagos State Government, Our Lagos Your Lagos.

     

  • Nigeria’s youth unemployment a time bomb, says Ooni

    Nigeria’s youth unemployment a time bomb, says Ooni

    The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has advised Nigerians to always buy locally made goods to save the local industry from collapse.

    The eminent traditional ruler also described massive youth unemployment in the land as “a time bomb waiting to explode, if nothing urgent is done to save the situation”.

    He urged governments and privileged individuals to create jobs and give youths economic empowerment to safeguard their future.

    Oba Ogunwusi spoke yesterday as the special guest of honour at the turning of the sod of the 121-unit Industrial Research Park of Afe Babalola University in Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), the Ekiti State capital.

    Apparently impressed by the giant strides of the university in the last eight years of its existence, the monarch described ABUAD founder, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), as “the pride of the Black race”.

    According to him, Ekiti State, Nigeria and the Black race are lucky to have a personality like Babalola, whom he credited with producing many initiatives to solve humnan challenges.

    The Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, requested the Ooni to lead a special prayer session for Babalola.

    Other monarchs at the occasion formed a ring round Babalola while the prayer lasted.

    Dignitaries at the event included Governor Ayo Fayose, Deputy Governor Kolapo Olusola, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Prof. Temitope Alonge; former Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Femi Bamisile, top government officials and captains of industry.

    Raising the alarm on the lack of jobs to match the ever-increasing population of Nigeria, Oba Ogunwusi called for a concerted effort among stakeholders to tackle the problem.

    He said: “There is a big problem in our nation: we are seated on a keg of gun powder. That is the truth because we should be concerned about the future of our youths.

    “What was our population 20, 30 years ago? And what is our population now? We are close to 200 million people. We attend an average two to three weddings every weekend. There is a problem.

    “Look at the number of youths in this country. Nobody is safe in this country, if you don’t support an initiative like this. That is why I will continue to give regards to Aare Afe Babalola.

    “Look at our youths; they are still roaming the streets, living under their parents and being used for political aggrandisement. Seven out of every 10 Nigerians are youths. What are we doing for them? Is it because we have not had any uprising yet? Is it because we pray very often? Please, let us back our prayers with actions.

    “I am very proud to be associated with ABUAD because nothing like this has been done in any part of Nigeria. This is a typical ‘town’ and ‘gown’ relationship.”

    Giving a royal advice on how local industries can be saved, the Ooni said: “A lot of people are not aware where their ties, their shoes, their clothes, the food they eat and other things are made.

    “If we want to grow in this country, production, consumption and investment must go side-by-side. If we are consuming and not producing, there is a problem along the line.

    “We are producing human capital, everyday. God has blessed us with land, labour, both skilled and unskilled, and enterprise.

    “Without initiatives like this, our country cannot grow. We cannot continue to be a consuming nation, everything we use must have a component of home-grown products. Keep supporting home-made goods to help our economy.”

  • Festac 77 @40: CBAAC seeks blessings from traditional rulers

    The Director-General (DG) of The Centre for Black and African Arts and Culture (CBAAC), Dr Ferdinand Anikwe, on Wednesday said it will seek royal blessings from traditional rulers from the country’s six geo-political zones ahead of its activities to commemorate 40 years of Festac 77.

    The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, had in media reports said that the CBAAC management was not carrying the traditional rulers along regarding the planning and implementation of Festac77at 40.

    The Oba had said that traditional rulers as the chief custodians of their cultures and traditional heritages should have been consulted on a national issue such as celebrating 40 years after Nigeria hosted the Second world festival of Arts and Culture, popularly called Festac 77.
    The activities to mark 40 years after Festac 77 was hosted by Nigeria will formally commence on April 1 across the country.

    Anikwe said that time was not on the side of CBAAC to visit all the traditional rulers across the country to intimate them about the coming programme.

    “It is too late now to seek royal blessings from all the royal fathers in the country over the celebration of Festac77 @40 but we will try and visit two royal fathers from the South-South, South- West, South- East, North -West and North-East geo-political zones of the country.

    “In fact, I am planning to have the Ooni play a key role on early March when the centre hopes to hold a traditional pre-celebration before the April 1 formal opening date.

    “The centre will formally visit the palace to seek his royal consent as soon as possible.

    “We are willing to learn more from His majesty and all other royal fathers from across the country,’’ he said.

    The D-G said that he visited the Ooni in 2016, but never discussed the forthcoming Festac 77 @40 with him.

    He said that he only went to see him when he was sourcing materials on a book he was writing to be titled: “Using Culture to curb Corruption’’.

    “His advice then was very instructive. He is very deep and cultural; he is a traditional ruler per excellence. I was attracted by his humility, rendition and packaging of ideas.’’

    Anikwe said that several Nigerians were scared that CBAAC would be involving witches and wizards in its programmes.

    “All I can say is that if witches and wizards are part of our culture, depending on the way anyone sees it, then the totality of our culture will be celebrated.

    “We will have an exposure of our historical cultural heritages. CBAAC has been involved in almost all Nigerian cultural programmes, including festivals,’’ he said.
    He said that since there were mandates for all cultural organizations to adhere to, each head of every cultural organisation should act in accordance with its mandate.

    “CBAAC’s mandate has stated areas that it must cover.

  • Foundation, Ooni, Siasia to honour Olympians

    Foundation, Ooni, Siasia to honour Olympians

    •  To also raise funds for upcoming talents

    Citizen Education and Skills Support Foundation, CESSF, has received the royal blessings and endorsement of the paramount ruler, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II to discover and develop gifted youths in Nigeria, through an event tagged Sportify 2017.

    The idea is to honour deserving athletes (especially the Olympic dream team and Paralympians) and personalities that have contributed to the growth of sports and entertainment development in the country.

    According to a press release from the foundation, the event will celebrate individuals that have brought honour and glory to Nigeria through the use of their talents.

    “We also intend to use the event to create awareness and establish a strong support network for upcoming talents because we strongly believe that there are enough hidden ‘gems’ to dominate not only the sporting arena but in every other sphere of life,” the statement reads in part.

    The star studded event is to be held in Lagos with a black tie gala evening slated for February 2017 followed by a baller’s bay (beach island fiesta) at Inagbe Grand Resorts.

    The Chief Host of the event is Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode while former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Senate President Bukola Saraki are expected to deliver Key Note addresses.

    Other dignitaries expected include captains of industry, politicians, government officials, top athletes and entertainment personalities.