Jamodu, Okundaye Take the Lead at Ogidi Day Festival

Foremost industrialist, Chief Kola Jamodu and visual art impresario, Chief (Mrs.) Nike Okundaye are expected to be the key role players at the Ogidi Day Festival holding on Saturday at Ogidi in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Jamodu, a community development enthusiast and Chairman of Nigerian Breweries Pls will be the Chairman at the festival tagged by locals as Nigeria’s biggest culture event in June.

Okundaye, Nigeria’s leading batik artist, herself a prominent indigene of the town will perform the symbolic presentation of the new yam to the Ologidi of Ogidi, Oba Rabiu Oladimeji Sule on the occasion.

Ogidi Day which holds in the second week of June each year commemorates the ancient rites ushering in the harvest season in the largely agrarian community.

The event, which has become a major destination for local and international tourists each year, will open on Friday, June 14, with an expedition to the Oda Mountain which served as watch tower for the community in its wars with Nupe invaders in the late 19th century.

Various groups and age grades in the town will be on parade at the main event the following day as they file out to renew their loyalty to the Ologidi who will officially authorize the consumption of the new yam.

Lagos based company executive, Chief Samuel Babalola Amoko and his wife, Yemisi, will be conferred with the honorary chieftaincy titles of Aro and Yeye Aro of Ogidi at the festival at which a retired oil worker and Elepo of Ogidi, Chief Ambrose Adewale will be the Father of the Day.

Various cultural troupes from the community as well as groups from Lagos, Edo, Ondo, Kwara and Osun States as well as those from other parts of Kogi States will entertain guests at the show during which a N150 million appeal Fund would be launch for the prosecution of various development projects in the community.