By John Odunayo
THE Ado Ekiti Kingdom on Sunday rounded off activities for the celebration of the 2024 Udiroko Festival with a Thanksgiving Service at the Anglican Church Cathedral, Okesa, Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State Capital.
The Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, Aladesanmi III; the Olori, Eyesorun Abosede Adejugbe; the Ewi-in-Council; members of the Udiroko Planning Committee led by Prof. Sunday Akindele; members of the Ado Progressives Union (APU); and as well natives of the ancient community thronged the church for the service.
The service was essentially to return all praise to the King of kings and Lord of lords in thanksgiving offering for a successful and result-oriented Udiroko Festival and for sparing their lives and as well prospering sons and daughters of the community.
Yearly, as part of activities for the Udiroko Festival, there would be a Jumat Service at the central mosque in the capital city on the Friday preceding the festival and as well thanks giving service in church after the festival.
This is a demonstration of the fact that Udiroko Festival is not idolatry but purely a cultural event about the history of Ado Ekiti and the Ewi stool.
It was in atmosphere of joy, reverence and unity in Sunday as the people gave thanks for the blessings and successes of the 2024 Udiroko Festival.
The Cathedral Administrator, Venerable Simeon Olajobi, paid glowing tributes to the Ewi for the peace and progress prevailing in the capital city during his reign.
Olajobi prayed for the monarch to live longer than his predecessors.
Oba Adejugbe thanked God for the gift of life and good health and as well success of the 2024 Udiroko Festival.
The monarch said it had been the age long tradition of the town to observe the annual festival which ensures the coming together of Ado sons and daughters to celebrate their place of birth.
The traditional ruler offered royal blessings for progress and prosperity for all his subjects at home and in the diaspora and as well continued peace and unity in the kingdom.
The Secretary of the Udiroko Festival Planning Committee, Prince Toyin Akingbade, who is the Chief Scribe of APU, said the 2024 Udiroko Festival was the best in terms of success, innovation and organisation.
He said, “Udiroko Festival is a unique cultural festival of Ado people which had been in existence since 1310 AD and has come to attain a special recognition even among the South Western States”.
He used the occasion to express his profound gratitude to sons and daughters of Ado Ekiti who made their presence felt and their support to the Ewi with special recognition of Ado Progressive union APU.
Akingbade noted that the 2024 Udiroko Festival marked a new departure from the previous ones in terms of new ideas and innovation noting that subsequent editions will be better without losing its cultural values.
“Without doubt, this year’s edition took a new dimension, new phase and new phenomenon that we are amazed by the outcome and the success recorded before during and after the festival.
“By the grace of God, next year will witness another huge landmark as we are going to reassess and review our activities generally so that next year’s Festival will be a step to the next level globally,” he said.
PHOTOS: Udiroko 2024
