Oyo declares Thursday work-free for 2026 Isese day

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde. Photo: Oyo State Govt

The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has declared Thursday, August 20, a work-free day in commemoration of Isese Day, a day dedicated by the state government to celebrating the rich cultural and traditional heritage of the Yoruba people.

This was contained in a memo signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Musibau Babatunde, conveyed through a statement released by the Special Adviser (Media) to the Oyo State Governor, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, made available to newsmen in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Wednesday.

According to the memo, the governor extended his felicitations to adherents of African Traditional Religion across Oyo State, Nigeria, and beyond, wishing them a successful and spiritually enriching celebration.

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Governor Makinde reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to fairness across all religions, expressing gratitude to traditional worshippers for their support of
his government over the past seven years.

The memo noted that “the work-free day will enable workers and residents to fully participate in the celebration of the state’s cultural heritage and pray for the peace, unity, and stability of the state in particular, and the country in
general.”

Recall that Governor Makinde introduced the Isese Day celebration as part of his administration’s visionary efforts to honour adherents of traditional religion, and to harness cultural tourism as a driver of economic growth, emphasising that cultural tourism remains one of Oyo State’s greatest strengths.

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