* Festival of Surgeries to supply medical interventions for beneficiaries
* Americans, different outstanding personalities to obtain chieftaincy titles
Sunday Aborisade in Abuja
The historical Ondo Kingdom in Ondo State is about to rejoice 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, academic and group improvement actions.
The celebrations, organised by the Ondo Development Committee (ODC), will characteristic a serious 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 tasks.
The actions, that are anticipated to run till December 24, 2026, will culminate within the annual Ekimogun Day Festival on December 26, offering a possibility for indigenes, residents and mates of the dominion to rejoice 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 outstanding Americans, media persona, Sway Calloway and famend American music trade government 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 kids 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 obtainable to journalists on Sunday on behalf of the planning committee.
According to the assertion, 2026 marks 20 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 rejoice the milestone within the monarch’s reign, showcase the dominion’s cultural identification and spotlight its social, financial and group improvement aspirations.
Other members of the planning committee embody Chief Wole Benson Akinkuolie, the Itagbuyi of Ondo Kingdom, and Dr Nelson Osungbemiro of Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo City.
Mimiko mentioned the anniversary was conceived not merely as a celebration of the monarch’s 20 years on the throne but in addition as a possibility for the folks of Ondo, each at residence 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 locally.
The organisers mentioned the medical programme was among the many anniversary’s sensible interventions designed to translate the celebration into tangible advantages for the folks, moderately than confining it to ceremonial actions.
In the schooling sector, the anniversary will characteristic inter-school debate competitions involving academic establishments throughout Ondo Kingdom.
The competitors is designed to supply college students with a platform to exhibit their mental skills, develop crucial pondering and have interaction with points affecting their quick atmosphere and society.
A public lecture can even convey collectively lecturers, conventional rulers, professionals and different stakeholders to look at the historical past, improvement and future prospects of the traditional kingdom.
The cultural part will characteristic 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 outstanding 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 will probably be marked by the disclosing and graduation of legacy improvement tasks meant to ship lasting advantages to the folks.
The organisers disclosed that at the very least one of many tasks was anticipated to be accomplished and inaugurated earlier than the top of the 12 months, whereas groundbreaking ceremonies would even be carried out for different initiatives.
Another important characteristic will probably be a city corridor assembly tagged ‘A Day with Osemawe’, which can present residents with a possibility to work together immediately 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 completely different backgrounds to trade views with the royal father on points affecting the dominion.
The programme can even characteristic thanksgiving companies at chosen locations of worship representing completely different spiritual and denominational teams in Ondo Kingdom.
The planning committee has known as on little kids of the dominion, group associations, alumni teams, skilled organisations, market women and men, academic 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 identification and enduring heritage of the folks.
It added that the anniversary would convey collectively indigenes and residents to rejoice their widespread heritage, strengthen communal relationships and renew their collective dedication to the dominion’s improvement.
The organisers mentioned the celebrations would finish on December 24, forward of the annual Ekimogun Day Festival scheduled for Saturday, December 26, 2026.
