The annual Ojude Oba Festival is here again. And it has become one of the most celebrated events in Nigeria. Each year, the event gets better.
Over the years, Ojude Oba Festival has been steadily attracting a sizeable number of big sponsors like Globacom, which is the main sponsor. There are o ther like First City Monument Bank Plc., Ogun State Government, Nigerian Breweries Plc.
(Maltina, Malta Gold and Goldberg Beer), Julius Berger Nigeria Plc., WEMPCO Group, Yinka Folawiyo Group of Companies, Ratcon Construction Company Limited, Nigerian Bottling Company, Rite Foods Limited among other partners and Advertisers.
As for Globacom, this indigenous telecommunication giant has been the main sponsor since 2006. It is not only the most innovative network in the country, it is also the fastest growing in Africa and the Middle East, with operations in Nigeria, Ghana and Benin Republic.
Unknown to many, Globacom is one of the few indigenous companies providing succour not only to millions of Nigerians but to several others in different parts of the world. Globacom’s simultaneous introduction of Per-Second-Billing system when it made its debut (when it was lunched) was historic as it was the first time such a scheme was introduced by any network in Nigeria. The other networks had no choice than to tow the line of the pacesetter- Globacom. Indeed, the history of Global System for Mobile Telecommunication (GSM) in Nigeria can never be complete without the name of Otunba (Dr.) Mike Adenuga, Jr. (GCON) being written in gold as a man who did the unthinkable with the Per-Second-Billing system for the benefit of Nigeria and Nigerians. The company has a good number of products and services that are not only affordable but equally comparable with the standards obtainable in advanced countries.
It is also worthy to note that Globacom in the past two years or thereabout has been adjudged the fastest growing network in data subscription in Nigeria. No wonder the company prides itself as the Grandmasters of data. As part of the activities lined up for this year by Globacom, there will be an international musical show infused with Miss Ojude Oba Beauty Pageant.
Globacom’s partnership with Ojude Oba Festival is in line with its philosophy of supporting traditional institutions and culture.
Its partnership with Ojude Oba has further enhanced the Festival and added to its tourist value. It is one partnership that has been mutually beneficial.
Otunba (Dr.) Mike Adenuga, the Globacom Chairman explained why Globacom has been the major sponsor for years. This he explained in his 2017 Goodwill Message:
“Globacom is delighted to be the major sponsor of the remarkable Ojude Oba Festival; a festival which we have sponsored since 2006.”
“For us in Globacom, these have been 11 years of well deserved celebration of cultural excellence and pride of our existence as a people who are rich in cultural values and aspirations.”
“Our sustained partnership with the Ojude Oba Festival Committee has deep roots in our passionate commitment to constantly be at the forefront of major initiatives aimed at accentuating the best of Nigeria’s cultures, values, desires and traditions.”
“It is our fervent hope that with the yearly celebration of the Ojude Oba legacy, our youths will imbibe the tenets of oneness and cohesion which our forebears handed to us and improve on same for future generations to pass to posterity.”
“We therefore, wish to encourage our youths to show interest in the histories of our different communities as well as our nation with a view to gaining greater understanding about those beneficial cultures and traditions of ours which are geared towards deepening the unity of our nation.”
“As a proudly Nigerian telecommunications company with global footprints, we owe the present generation and posterity the responsibility to join forces with men and women of goodwill to sustain the renewed drive towards the historical and cultural Renaissance of our country.”
“We are proud of our newly-acquired badge of honour as the biggest corporate promoter of the Arts including celebration of traditions, cultures and desires of Nigeria and her peoples. Aside from our commitment to the promotion of the Ojude Oba Festival, we wish to also restate our determination to continue to provide world class voice and data infrastructure that will continuously enable all Nigerians to communicate seamlessly within the nation and across the world.”
“Our profound appreciation goes to the people of Ijebuland for the warmth and friendliness extended to our company since we began this partnership that has worked so effectively.
We felicitate with our royal father, Kabiyesi, the Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the Ogbagba Agbatewole for his unique leadership qualities which have kept Ijebuland as a cohesive entity since the beginning of his reign spanning close to 60 years.”
Not many people know that Otunba Mike Adenuga has a rich Ijebu pedigree and heritage. He is the Otunba Apesin of Ijebuland. Only few know that he and the Awujale of Ijebuland are related. We can tell you that authoritatively that they are family members. We can also tell you that they are very, very close. Both hold themselves in high esteem. In fact, City Peoples findings reveal that Otunba Mike Adenuga, whose nickname is the guru, is one of the closest persons to this paramount ruler of Ijebuland.
The Awujale himself does not hide that very fact. Many of those who are close to them know and the Awujale himself revealed the depth of their closeness in his autobiography titled Awujale published 8 years ago.
Not many people know that the Awujale and Otunba Mike Adenuga are in fact cousins and then friends. Although the Awujale is much older than Mike Adenuga, he relates with him more like a friend.
How come they are related? We can tell you. Mike’s late mum, Mrs. Oyin Adenuga is nee Onashile. In his autobiography, the Awujale revealed that the Onashiles belong to notable and influential families in Ijebu Igbo – the Omo Olu Badejos on the paternal side and the Pariolas on the maternal side. Mike Adenuga’s late mother is Awujale’s grandmother, Dorcas Tami Onashile’s daughter.
Not only that. The Awujale in December 1956 went to live with Mike Adenuga’s mum, Mrs. Oyin Adenuga in Ibadan. That was when his secondary school was over. The link is that Mike Adenuga’s mum is Awujale’s aunt.
That was why over the last few years Awujale has been protective of Mike Adenuga and at several times he has risen in defence of Adenuga as shown in his autobiography. When OBJ tried to intimidate Mike with EFCC under Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Awujale took it up with the then President, Olusegun Obasanjo.
City People gathered that Awujale likes Mikes humility, respect for elders and generosity. For instance despite how stupendously rich, Otunba Mike is whenever he visits or sees Awujale, he goes flat on the floor to greet him. He calls and speaks to Otunba Mike Adenuga almost on a daily basis. And there is nothing the Awujale desires in life that Mike Adenuga would not willing do, buy or purchase. Whilst Awujale is like a Baba (father) to Mike Adenuga, Mike Adenuga is like his son and aburo pataki who knows what Awujale will need at any point in time.
When he feels the Awujale deserves some rest or vacation he will always arrange for him to get one. By his very nature. Otunba Mike Adenuga is safety conscious, so he is more relaxed outside Nigeria so he usually unwinds with the Awujale abroad.
So, it’s not unlikely to see the Awujale chilling once in a while in South of France or the UK with his young wife, Oloori Kemi who he likes travelling with and the guru would join them.
