Egbe Bobagunte will be celebrating its 20th Anniversary in a few days time with activities commencing from August 17, 2018. A major highlight of the celebration is the dedication of a twin bungalow at the OGD Estate, Sabo-Itanrin Road, Latogun Junction, bought from the Ogun State Government and completely remodelled to be donated to St Mary’s Catholic Eye Hospital, Ago Iwoye, to serve as an outreach centre to serve the people of Ijebuland and others from far and wide.
There will also be a lecture with the topic: Good Governance@ the Different Tiers of Government: Remembering OtunbaDipo Dina Advocacy.
The guest lecturer is DrTunjiOlaopa – Executive Vice Chairman, Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy (ISGPP). He was a former Permanent Secretary, State House, Abuja & The Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, and Youth Development)
The Moderator will be Prof AlabaAdenuga (Dean Faculty of Education, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye
Venue is Grand Inn, Stadium Road, GRA, Ijebu Ode and is Date is August 18, 2018.
Lets tell you about the principal officers. Their Grand Patron is Alaiyeluwa Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the Awujale & paramount ruler of Ijebuland. The Baba Egbe is Omoba M.A Abimbola, Chairman Trio Commodities & former Vice Chairman defunct Midas Merchant Bank
The Iya Egbe is late Chief (Mrs) Adesola Akinjide (Yeyeluwa of Ijebuland) and their Giwa Egbe is OtunbaAdesanya Yusuf (OtunbaBobaseilu of Ijebu)
Egbe Bobagunte (Okunrin) AkileIjebu is one of the prominent age-grade groups called “Regberegbe” in Ijebuland. Like all other “regberegbes” Egbe Bobagunte(Okinrin) Akile Ijebu derives its authority from the Awujale who is the paramount ruler of Ijebuland.Bobagunte was royally chartered on March 28, 1998 by Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, Ogbagba II, CFR, JP, Awujaleand Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland at the Heritage Hall, Afin Awujale in a well-attended ceremony dubbed Royal Blessing/Traditional Recognition. It was a colourful ceremony full of pomp and pageantry.
MISSION STATEMENT
Determined to leave our footprints in the sands of time, we, the sons of Akile Ijebu -born between January 1, 1959 and December, 31, 1961, have come together, under the royal umbrella of Egbe Bobagunte (Okunrin) Akile Ijebu, so conferred on us by the Awujale(the custodian and sole authority of Ijebu cultural heritage), to put all the resources at our disposal tofoster: •The development of our ancestral root, •The improvement of the lot of our members, •The upliftment of the Nigerian society; Believing that this will make us relevant to the needs and aspirations of the present and future generations of Ijebus in particular and Nigerians generally.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
- To promote the Social and economic development of members; among the people of AkileIjebu and Nigeria in general
- To sustain and promote the cherished cultural heritage of Akile Ijebu
- To encourage understanding with other Egbe Ibile with similar objectives for the unity and progress of AkileIjebu and the country as a whole
- To contribute towards the development of Akileand engage in all other activities that will enable the Egbe to accomplish its objectives.
MEMBERSHIP
Membershipis open to all sons of Ijebuland-born between the years 1959, 1960 and 1961 irrespective of profession, religion or social strata.We have also in furtherance of inclusiveness open our membership to spouses of Ijebu daughters so interested in our traditions and cultural heritage.
The Egbe received its Royal Blessing/ Traditional Recognition, conducted by Alaiyeluwa Oba S.K Adetona Ogbagba II, CFR, JP on Saturday 28th March 1998. The event attracted the crème of society with our Baba Egbe Omoba Adewale Abimbola and Iya Egbe (Late) Chief Mrs Adesola Akinjide in attendance. Presently, Egbe Bobagunte has 170 active members.
FORMATION
The inaugural meeting of Egbe Bobagunte (Okunrin) Akile Ijebu was held on April 17, 1997 at Gateway Hotel, Ijebu Ode (now Equity Hotel). It was a meeting put together by “Austin” Adesanya Yusuf (now Giwa Egbe), Taiwo Adeniji (now AsiwajuEgbe), Kemi Lawal, .and Gboyega Adesoye (now Balogun Egbe). It had logistical support from the likes of Segun Daranijo (now Baagbuyi& Gen Sec), S.K Akinsanya (Ijaodoro) and Gboyega Alatishe (now OtunGiwa).
It was from that meeting the seed of Egbe Bobagunte (which had been conceived by the trio of Giwa Adesanya Yusuf, Asiwaju Taiwo Adeniji and Kemi Lawal) sprung up. Giwa Adesanya Yusuf and Balogun Gboyega Adesoye could be termed as Chief Operating Officers or midwives then. The Egbe at the inaugural meeting formed a steering committee which gave the Egbe its structures and midwifed the elections of officers who in turn organised its Royal Blessing & Traditional Recognition by Alaiyeluwa Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, CFR, Ogbagba II, Awujale& Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland on March 28, 1998.
STEERING COMMITTEE
There were a lot of behind-the scene moves of alignments and realignments of people and interests before the “midwives” could put together the inaugural meeting. That on its own is a story for another day.
The mobilisation of members for the inaugural meeting was extensively done and to the glory of God we had One Hundred and two (102) people in attendance. The first major task of the inaugural meeting was to appoint a committee which was tagged as the Steering Committee. This committee was put in place as an interim body to oversee the affairs of the Egbe till substantive officers were elected. The members of this committee were:
(1) “Austin” Adesanya Yusuf. – Chairman (now GiwaEgbe)
(2) Segun Tai Daranijo. – Secretary (now Baagbuyi& General Secretary)
(3) TaiwoAdeniji (now AsiwajuEgbe)
(4) Alh. GboyegaAdesoye (now Balogun)
(5) Kemi Lawal (Chairman,A Steering Committee preceding Elections)
(6) Alh. Gboyega Alatishe (now Otun Giwa)
(7) Kunle Otubu (now Olorogun Egbe)
(8) Engr. Biodun Alli-Oke (now Atunluse Egbe)
(9) Ayokunle Dongo (of Blessed Memory)
(10) Wale Tawak (Basorun Egbe)
The Steering Committee as it were became the first formal body of the Egbe. The body ran the Egbe for about 7 months before handing over to elected officials. The Steering Committee in conjunction with the general assembly during the course of its tenure appointed the following ad hoc committees:
Screening Committee was chaired by HBA Fetuga (now Treasurer)
Finance Committee –Chaired by Ganiu Bello (formerly Treasurer Egbe)
Liaison Committee – chaired by Arc DiranEyinfunjowo (now OtunBasorunEgbe)
Publicity Committee – chaired by Lanre Hassan
Constitution Drafting Committee – chaired by Wale Tawak (now Basorun Egbe)
Gunte Electoral Committee (GECOM) – chaired by Babatunde Rufai – Lariba (now Ba’agbimo Egbe).
STRUCTURE
GIWA-IN-COUNCIL
EgbeBobagunte (Okunrin) is led by its Giwa- OtunbaAdesanya Yusuf (OtunbaBobaseilu of Ijebu) ably supported by Otun Giwa – Otunba Adegboyega Alatishe (OtunbaBaderoof Ijebu) andEta Giwa – Hon Kemi Banjo (Former Chairman of Lagos Mainland Local Government Authority)
Themanagement of the Egbe is vested in the Giwa-in-Council (Executive Council)headed by the Giwa whose position is for life by the authority of the Awujale. The Egbe in its wisdom has after a couple of years of existence for reasons of stability opted to make the positions of the OtunGiwa and Eta Giwapermanent and both officers are also members of the executive council. Other members (which are elected every three years)are: General Secretary, Assistant General Secretary, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Social Secretary I, II & III, Public Relations Officer (Akede), Welfare Officer and Legal Officer ( Bamofin).
BOARD OF TRUSTEES (B.O.T)
The Bobagunte Board of Trustees is a very important and revered organ of the Egbe and membership of this board consists of somehonorary traditional title holders of the Egbe and the Giwa, Otun Giwa and Eta Giwa. The functions of the board are
(I) To act in advisory capacity to the Executive Council and the Egbe
(II) To consider issues and discuss matters affecting the Egbe in conjunction with the Executive Council
(III) To assist the Egbe in any capacity and help register the name of the Egbe with the appropriate authorities according to the acts of law
(IV) To always act as transitional government before any election of officers in any election year.
B.O.T MEMBERS
Otunba Adesanya Yusuf – GiwaEgbe&Chairman
Otunba Adegboyega Alatishe – Otun Giwa
Hon Kemi Banjo – Eta Giwa
AsiwajuTaiwoAdeniji – AsiwajuEgbe&Vice Chairman
Otunba Adegboyega Adesoye – Balogun Egbe
Basorun Olawale Tawak – BasorunEgbe
Otunba Babatunde Rufai-Lariba – Ba’agbimo Egbe
Dr. Adetunji Oredipe – Mayederun Egbe &Secretary
Bobagunwa Gbenga Fetuga–Bobagunwa & Ogbeni Oja Egbe.
INTERNATIONAL CHAPTERS EGBEBOBAGUNTE UK
Egbe Bobagunte at its inception conceived the idea of having international chapters as a viable act of bringing the much cherished Ijebu culture and traditions close to people of our age grade in the diaspora. To the glory of God, the lofty dream was realized on October, 11, 2008 when Egbe Bobagunte Akile Ijebu UK chapter was launched by our revered Alaiyeluwa Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, CFR, JP Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, supported by HRH Oba Y.O Adekoya – Dagburewe of Idowa, representative of The Nigeria High Commission, U.K. and other notable personalities. The presence of the Awujalein personally giving our International Chapter hisroyal nod and traditional blessing was a rare privilegefor which we remain eternally grateful.
The UK chapter is led by Alhaji Kassim Haruna-Ishola, as Asoju Giwa and recently celebrated their 10thAnniversary in London.
EGBEBOBAGUNTE IRELAND
The success achieved in the UK propelled the Egbe to establish the Republic of Ireland chapter in February 2009. The Republic of Ireland Chapter, like the UK Chapter, is also headed by an Asoju Giwa, and currently, plans are in top gear for the celebration of their 10th Anniversary in Dublin in 2019.
Other Chapters
Plans are under way for the US chapter and the Canadian Chapter.
