Oyebanji pledges support for cultural growth at Ekiti festival

File: From left: Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Mrs Monisade Afuye; Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji; the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe; and the monarch's wife, Eyesorun Abosede Adejugbe; during the 2026 Udiroko Festival in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has reiterated the state government’s commitment to supporting initiatives that promote Ekiti’s cultural heritage, tourism and economic development.

The governor spoke on Wednesday at the palace of the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, during the 2026 Udiroko Festival, themed, ‘Udiroko as the Signpost of Our History, Tradition and Cultural Values’.

The governor stressed that cultural festivals could serve as important drivers of local enterprise and employment when properly packaged and promoted.

He called for the expansion and rebranding of the annual Udiroko Festival in Ado Ekiti, which signifies the community’s new year, to make it a major cultural and economic platform capable of creating jobs, attracting investment and generating wealth for the people of the state.

Oyebanji said, “Udiroko Festival has grown beyond an annual cultural gathering and should now be deliberately developed into a major tourism and economic event while preserving its historical significance, cultural values and traditions.

“This festival is no longer just an annual festival for Ado Ekiti, but Ekiti festival; it has become an iconic festival. We need to sit down with the committee and find a way of expanding it.

“We should also use this festival as an avenue to create wealth and employment. I am confident that by the time I leave the office in 2030, we would have been able to rebrand this festival and make it much bigger and more impactful.

“The state government is committed to supporting initiatives that promote Ekiti’s cultural heritage, tourism and economic development. Cultural festivals could serve as important drivers of local enterprise and employment when properly packaged and promoted.”

• Apapa Customs record historic N28.10bn daily collection
• Ekiti community gets monarch after 25-year chieftaincy dispute
• Lagos takes cultural troupe to Oyo Sango festival

The governor hailed Oba Adejugbe for his support for the administration and for demonstrating commitment not only to Ado Ekiti but also to the entire state.

Oyebanji, while expressing appreciation to the people of Ado Ekiti and the state generally, urged them to continue to support President Bola Tinubu, particularly as the 2027 presidential election approached, saying the state had benefited from the President’s interventions and support.

In his address from the throne, Oba Adejugbe congratulated the sons and daughters of the community on the success of the year’s Udiroko Festival.

The monarch said, “That ancient mandate given under an Iroko tree has matured and evolved over the years and decades to become not just a cultural showpiece, but also a tourist attraction that galvanises the whole of Ado Ekiti Kingdom, its sons and daughters, as well as our friends and well-wishers from around the world.”

He said the community had witnessed tremendous progress and improvements across all sectors, appealing to individuals and organisations to invest in the state towards creating employment opportunities for youths and improving the state’s economy.

The monarch said that “Udiroko Festival will continue to provide opportunity for Ado Ekiti people, particularly the younger generation, to reconnect with their cultural roots while creating opportunities for businesses, artisans, hospitality operators and other economic players.”

He commended President Tinubu for his reforms and efforts at stabilising the nation’s economy and advocated more decisive action in tackling the security challenges confronting the country.

Sons and daughters of the ancient community from far and near gathered at the palace grounds in their numbers for the colourful 2026 Udiroko Festival celebration.