Tinubu, Atiku, Obi, Others To Attend 2022 Ife Day Celebration, Fund Raising

By Grace Isaac, Osogbo

Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Atiku Abubaka, his co-contender on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Peter Obi of Labour Party(LP), Adewole Adebayo of Social Democratic Party (SDP) among other dignitaries are to attend the 2022 Ife Day celebration and fund raising.

Other invited dignitaries include Wale Olanipekun, Prof. Wole Oladipupo, serving and ex senators , Obas from different states among others.

The chairman of Ife Day Development Board (IDB), Dr Yomi Layinka revealed this to journalists on Friday at a press conference addressed in Ife, Osun State.

Speaking on the purpose of the celebration, Dr Layinka said this year celebration is to mark the seventh coronation anniversary of Ooni, Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi as the 51st Ooni of Ife.

He said the king has done wonderfully well in terms of infrastructure and helping the vulnerable in the town adding that “His youthful energy and enterprising initiatives have added value to the social and economic development of the Cradle.

The chairman also said the celebration is meant to award some set of people who have contributed greatly to the development of the town and those who has help the less privilege in one way or the other.

He noted that the award is not meant for personality but to those that deserves it.

Dr Layinka called on tourists all over the world who wish to explore historical and spiritual legacies in Ile-Ife to attend the event in order to satisfy their curiosity.

“As inheritors of this proud heritage, we bear the historic responsibility of living up to its established accomplishments acknowledged by historians and archaeologists as a community that developed stone, iron, bronze, and brass technology in the early ages.

“A community with such eminent pedigree must continuously renew, re-plan, innovate and strategise how to maximise the current human and material resources to position the people for greater and peace.

“In this regard, we passionately salute the vibrant, visionary and brilliant leadership of His Imperial Majesty, Arole Oodua, Ooni Babatunde Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II. We thank our ancestors for blessing us with this Oonirisa. His youthful energy and enterprising initiatives have added value to the social and economic development of the Cradle.

“This year’s Ife Day is a double bill event. It marks the seventh coronation anniversary of Ooni Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi as the 51st Ooni of Ife.

“It will also feature the public presentation of IFE VISION 2050, the roadmap for the implementation of the Ife Development Agenda. Other activities have been arranged to accentuate these objectives. For instance, this 7th coronation anniversary will enable the people of Ife and their friends across the world to appreciate the agenda of peace and development enunciated by the Oonirisa on his ascension to the Throne seven years ago.

“Despite unwarranted provocations from various quarters and agitation by many who still feel aggrieved over land matters, Kabiyesi Ogunwusi has walked his talk as the ambassador of peace by seeking cooperation and encouraging harmonization not only among people of Yoruba descent but between peoples of various cultures and nationalities.

“We are happy that the Federal Government, in recognition of his herculean efforts, recently decorated him with the well deserved national honour of the Commander of Federal Republic, CFR. In his citation on that occasion, he was justifiably commended as a promoter of peace and unity.

“The second objective for IfeDay 2022 is the Unveiling of the Ife Vision 2050. This is a critical phase of our renewed efforts to harness the potential of our environment for communal progress.

“As a part of that agenda, the IDB in 2020, passed a resolution to hold a workshop to explore the strategy of IfeVision 2030. In October and November 2021, this series of workshops enabled us to develop our 30-year Urban Renewal Development plan leveraging the four pillars of agriculture, mining, tourism and technology.

“For an example, there is an Agro-Allied Industrial Park being planned with national and multilateral development partners to be sited in Ifeland. This is to facilitate the processing of agricultural products into semi-finished and finished products. Such an intervention would offer practical solutions to some of the challenges facing our farmers like producing raw agricultural products which tend to attract low market prices and short shelf lives.

“When fully completed, the industrial park which shall initially begin with about 10-15 acres shall have storage facilities, food processing factories, and offices for regulatory agencies. There is also a forestry products committee, chaired by the former director of forestry in Osun State, Dr. Fayenuwo also working to add the forestry value chain to the proposed park.

“In executing this vision and roadmap, we would be partnering with domestic and international, private and public sector agencies involved in the Agricultural value chain. We are already in consultation with some of these agencies whose representatives are already on board abd sill be joining us at the vision unveiling ceremony on Friday 9th December, 2022.

“Other industrial estates dedicated to the mining, tourism, and technology sub-sectors shall be launched at future editions of Ife Day.

“Let me use this opportunity to notify tourists all over the world who wish to explore the historical and spiritual legacies of Ile-Ife, the Cradle, that this is the best time to visit and satisfy their curiosity.

“There are modest three and four-star hotels that cater to your hospitality and we have a good security network that will ensure your safety.

” It is an acknowledged fact that festivals constitute a sectoral industry in Ile-Ife as no day passes without one festival or the other drawing participants from all over the world. If you are a tourist that requires the assistance of tour guides, please reach us through our website

Following extensive consultations with varied stakeholders, the final program of events for Ife Day 2022 is as follows:

Following extensive consultations with varied stakeholders, the final program of events for Ife Day 2022 is as follows:

FRIDAY, 9TH DECEMBER, 2022.

i. The Source Discuss (An inter-generational conversation on ‘Yoruba Culture as a Strategic Imperative for Development)

Venue: Ife Resorts, Ibadan Rd, Ile-Ife. Time: 11 am

ii. The Ooni Ojaja Banquet.
Featuring ’The Future Imagined: unveiling IFEVISION2050, the Ife Development Agenda’.

Side event: Fashion Show by the Oodua Adire Textile Hub

Venue: Ojaja Arena, Ife Resorts, Ibadan Rd, Ile-Ife

Time: 2.30 pm for 3.00 pm

SATURDAY, 10TH DECEMBER, 2022.

i. Youth Carnival and Float from Mayfair – Lagere – Aderemi – Aiyetoro – More – Fajuyi- ilare- Afewonro Park, Time: 8 am – 10 am

ii. ‘IfeDay 2022: The Gathering of the People’.

Side event: mini-trade exhibition, indigenous food fair, and local musical performances.

Venue: Afewonro Park, Enuwa Square, Ile-Ife. Time: 10 am – 4 pm

He thereby called on the sons and daughters of Ife outside and within and friends join the activities to make this historic celebration of development a success.

Let me use this opportunity to notify tourists all over the world who wish to explore the historical and spiritual legacies of Ile-Ife, the Cradle, that this is the best time to visit and satisfy their curiosity. There are modest three and four-star hotels that cater to your hospitality and we have a good security network that will ensure your safety. It is an acknowledged fact that festivals constitute a sectoral industry in Ile-Ife as no day passes without one festival or the other drawing participants from all over the world. If you are a tourist that requires the assistance of tour guides, please reach us through our website