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Details Of This Year’s Festival
On Saturday 1st July, 2023, Ijebu-Igbo will come alive, as many indigenes will be gathering for this years Ojude Oba Festival, called ORIMOLUSI Ojude Oba Festival 2023. It is to be held at the Orimolusi Palace Ground. Last year’s Ojude Oba was held on Monday, 11th July, 2022 at the same venue. This years activities will begin on June 28th and will go on till the D-Day, July 1st 2023. It will involve various activities like Town storming, Entertainment Arena, Ojude Oba ceremony and Concert.
At last years event, the Orimolusi of Ijebu-Igbo, HRH Alayeluwa, Oba Lawrence Jaiyeoba Adebayo explained the significance of the event. “Ojude Oba Festival being celebrated by the Ijebus worldwide, on the 3rd day after Ileya-Muslim Festival of Eid-Kabir is a proof of religious tolerance and unity amongst the people of Ijebu. It has always been celebrated in colours, fanfare and pageanty.”
“This event we are all witnessing today is a turning point in the history of Ijebu-Igbo kingdom as it marks a day for us to revalidate our history as a community of people with single-minded mission towards love, liberty, harmony and peaceful co-existence.
As the Orimolusi Ojude Oba Festival approaches, all the organised Regberegbe are preparing. They are as follows: Egbe Bobajolu – 1947-1949, Egbe Obafuwaji – 1950-1952, Egbe Bobagbimo – 1953-1955, Egbe Bobakeye Okunrun Agba Olorire – 1956-1958, Egbe Bobakeye Olooto – 1956-1958, Egbe Mayegun Akile Ijebu – 1959-1961, Egbe Bobagunte Agba – 1959-1961, Egbe Bobagunte Majeobaje – 1959-1961, Egbe Bobagunte Mayegun – 1959-1961, Egbe Bobagunte Orimolusi Obinrin – 1959-1961, Egbe Gbobaniyi Asiwaju Olorire – 1962-1964, Egbe Gbobaniyi Ibile Okorokoro – 1962-1964, Egbe Jagunmolu Asiwaju – 1965-1967, Egbe Jagunmolu Alalubarika – 165-1967, Egbe Jagunmolu Alalubarika Original – 1965-1967, Egbe Arobayo Asiwaju – 1968-1970, Egbe Arobayo Okunrin Ati Obinrin Akile Ijebu-Igbo – 1968-1970, Egbe Tobalase Asiwaju – 1971-1975, Egbe Bobamayegun Orimolusi – 1974-1976, Egbe Bobadega – 1983-1985, Egbe Bobadega – 1986-1988 and Egbe Tobalase Orimolusi – 1971-1975. New age grade groups are most likely to join this year.
What will make this years Ojude Oba Festival an interesting one is the fact that things have considerably changed, since the new Orimolusi came in. For, Ijebu-Igbo, a town boasting of rich history, distinct features and many unique characteristics, it has been a new beginning. The good and industrious people of the town, for close to 3 decades had been without a King, who should be a symbol of Unity and Progress. This was enough to make them despondent. But they chose to trade in hope. And over the last 2 years, it has paid off with the activities of His Royal Majesty, Oba Lawrence Jaiyeoba Adebajo, Ojuromi VI, the new Orimolusi of Ijebu Igbo.
Recently, Adedayo Odulaja, Seyi, Taiwo-Oguntuase, Alhaji Prince Misbaudeen Shefiu, all indigenes of Ijebu-Igbo revealed a lot about the town. According to them, Ijebu-Igbo is a blessed town.
“Reputed to cover a space of 967 km (373 sqm) with a population of 284,336, according to 2006 Census figures, the current estimate of the population of Ijebu-Igbo now hovers around 470,000 people. Bounded to the North by Oluyole Local Government in Oyo State, in the West by Ijebu East Local Government, in the South by Ijebu North East, Odogbolu and Ijebu Ode Local Government and in the East by Ikenne Local Government along with boundaries with Osun and Ondo States, Ijebu Igbo can be described as a land flowing with milk and honey”.
“With hundreds of villages and hamlets under Ijebu Igbo including the vast farmland covering areas like Idi Oparun, Ganrigan and many others, majority of the people engage in substantive farming; Garri, Palm Oil, Cocoa, Kolanut, Orange, Bamboo stick, Yam and Bread
fruit among the most common farm produces that Ijebu-Igbo farmers ferry to the markets on selected market days.”
“The town is also famous for being one of the notable locations of professional meat butchers widely known as ‘Alapata’.
“Indeed Ijebu-Igbo is a town also notable for the distribution and supply of cow meat to towns within and around Ijebuland as well as far-flung places like Epe, Ajah, Sagamu, Ketu, Bariga, and many other areas in Lagos. The ancient town also boasts of over 30 ponmo-making (cow skin) industries from where many areas in Lagos State, Oyo State and other parts of Ogun State get their supplies on regular basis. It is now even processed for exports.”
“Another distinct characteristic is that the Ijebu-Igbo Forest Reserve, which is called the Omo Forest Reserve, is among the 12 biggest forest reserves in Nigeria.”
“There is a bit of controversy on whether Malaysia carne to seek and actually take palm trees from Nigeria decades back for the Asian country to boost its palm oil production but what is not in doubt is the fact that Apoje Farms has been known round the country as a veritable resource location in the Palm Oil Production chain.”
“And according to many in the agricultural sector, this was the point from where the coveted West African specie of palm trees were taken and handed over to the Malaysians. This is how Apoje, which is now undergoing rehabilitation got on the global map.”
“Evidence abound of the presence of solid minerals, granite and other natural resources that are yet untapped in Ijebu-Igbo.”
“Now, it is the beginning of a new dawn.”
Adedayo Odulaja, Seyi, Taiwo-Oguntuase, Alh. Prince Misbaudeen Shefiu. Al-Ameery are optimistic in their write up that the reign of Kabiyeesi will bring forth a new dawn and the industries in Ijebu-Igbo will begin to grow and thrive.
Let’s tell you about Oba Lawrence Jaiyeoba Adedeji Tanimowo Adebajo, the Orimolusi who has brought phenomenal changes to Ijebu-Igbo within the few years he has been Orimolusi.
According to his official citation, he is proudly from the male Royal lineage of Ojuromi from Oke Tako in Ijebu Igbo. Sired by parents, Prince Tanimowo Adebajo and Mama Safuratu Adebajo (nee Aderibigbe/JB King) from Atikori, he was born on the 11th day of November, 1953 in Fowoseje, a remote village in Ijebu Igbo.
Young Prince Jaiyeoba with, a burning desire to get educated, stared his elementary education at St. Bridget Catholic Primary School, Fowoseje and, at age 12, completed his primary education with merits. He enrolled at St. Vincent Catholic Secondary Modern School, Oke Sopen, Ijebu Igbo in 1966 and equally completed his Modern School education in 1968.
But his Dad could no longer afford to pay his fees through to Secondary School. But he was determined to, not only develop himself but, ensure he turned out to be a success in his life endeavours.
He embarked on a lot of personal training and development exercises.
He became dedicated towards achieving his goals and such dedication and relentlessness eventually paid off.
Through his late father’s wise counsel, he started his career in Transportation business by joining a Transport Company located in Ibadan. As the saying goes, a star that is determined to shine cannot be hidden, not even by darkness.
The budding youngster, Prince Jaiyeoba performed so well, breaking records in his assigned duty that a Luxury Bus Transport Company from Lagos, ICOC poached and brought him to Lagos in February 15, 1975. He resumed duty as a Transport Officer and soon learnt a lesson of life through his then Managing Director, Mr. Infeayin Chucku Osondu who later became the Igwe of Umulolo, Okigwe, Imo State.
It was at the end of year party of the company in 1975, and his MD told his story of g:rass to grace. A steady growth from motor boy, to Danfo Driver to Transport Officer and vehicle owner and eventually owned fleet of vehicles. This prepared him for the challenges ahead and equipped him with all that was needed to succeed in life as he ventured into Transportation business. With this insight from his boss, he started saving from monthly salary.
On December 24, 1977, Oba Lawrence Jaiyeoba Adedeji Tanimowo Adebajo bought his first new car which unfortunately got burnt after the second day of purchase. As one who would not allow setbacks to set him back. He quickly remembered the admonitions of his boss and realized that even the accomplished suffers setbacks sometimes. The more bitter the lessons, the greater the successes will be. With zeal and determination for success Prince Jaiyeoba forged ahead.
In 1979, while still working for ICOC, he started making effort through personal contacts towards buying his first Luxury Bus on hire purchase from a company owned then by Alhaji Saibu Gomina at Osogbo.
He eventually achieved his goal and bought a bus through a monthly payment that was spread for a period of 30 months. A a man of fair-minded conscience who would not want a clash of interest between his boss and him, he re igned as a Workshop Manager and started his own transport business which was later registered as LA TANMO & Sons on August 1,1984; a business name he coined from his father’s name ‘Tanimowo’.
It is on record that he completed payment for the bus in a record time of 10 months. He was thereafter introduced to a company in Lagos and he got a luxury bus which he also completed its payment in 8 months.
The management of the company was so impressed at his performance and he was offered another Bus of which he also completed payment in 7 months. This was how his business grew and he became a proud owner of a fleet of buses.
The best, they say, will never rest.
His company explored other frontiers and succeeded in securing a deal with Lagos State Waste Water Management Office (LSWMO) as an accredited Transport Company for the organisation. With years of unblemished service to LSWMO, he was offered a Facility Management contract. Due to the company’s prudent and transparent management process, he was given a commendation letter by the agency last year, having performed meritoriously for over 12 years. His facility management contract with LSWMO is still valid till date.
No doubt, Prince Jaiyeoba is a successful and accomplished entrepreneur who before the age of 40, built his houses in Aledo Oke-Agbo Ijebu Igbo and in Okota Lagos.
Oba Lawrence Jaiyeoba Adedeji Tanimowo Adebajo is a humble, noble, God/fearing and compassionate personality who is ready to help people rise above challenges. He has been able to assist many people through educational, business and financial support in various ways. He has helped people setup businesses and even stood as guarantors for those who needed huge financial assistance. To the glory of God, some of those he has
assisted have become a success story today. His joy is seeing people celebrating successes around him.
A silent achiever, Oba Lawrence Jaiyeoba Adedeji Tanimowo Adebajo has to his credit a lot of anonymous donations. To him, he would want God to take Glory for enabling him to touch lives in various ways. His philanthropic activities earned him the title of Balogun Ijo of St. Peters Catholic Church, Oke Sopen, Ijebu Igbo. He has on various occasion stretched a helping hand to The Catholic Church, Oke Agbo, The Christian Association of Nigeria, Ijebu North and The Catholic Church in Ukpenu, near Ekpoma, Edo State.
Apart from his various community support activities, Prince Jaiyeoba is not one that discriminates against religious leanings. This is evident in his contributions towards the renovation of several Mosques in his neighbourhood. He has an award to show for this from a Mosque in Okota, Lagos, his area of residence.
In his local community, Oba Lawrenc e Jaiyeoba Adedeji Tanimowo Adebajo was at various times the Secretary, Treasurer and the Chairman of his Community Development Association in Okota, Lagos. He was Chairman for several years before he voluntarily pulled out to allow others to contribute their quota towards the growth of the community.
Call him a reluctant candidate to the throne of Orimolusi of Ijebu Igbo, you will evidently find in him a man of impeccable character who keep to his words and maintain his integrity in all his dealings. However, fate has entrusted this exalted position on him and through faith he believes and states “if my ascension to the throne will uplift my dear town, Ijebu Igbo, so be it.’ Now, we have a man who is genuinely committed towards the growth of his town, Ijebu Igbo.
Oba Lawrence Jaiyeoba Adedeji Tanimowo Adebajo is married to Mrs. Bolanle Mary Adebajo, an Entrepreneur from Osan Ekiti, Moba Local Government of Ekiti State and they are blessed with children and grandchildren.
