2023 Ago-Iwoye Day celebrated in grand style

The 2023 edition of the annual Ago-Iwoye Day Celebration was held on Saturday, 14th October 2023, Great Achiever Magazine reports.

The event, which was the climax of the week-long activities earlier lined up, took place at Imososi Primary School playground, Ago-Iwoye, and brought together dignitaries from all walks of life including sons and daughters of the ancient town.

It was indeed a colourful event that saw several Clubs, Associations, Regberegbes and various groups display the rich culture of Ago-Iwoye.

In his welcome address at the occasion, Comrade Awotunde Awobona, Chairman, Ago-Iwoye Central Development Council (ACDC), the body which organised the event, appealed to Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun to complete the second lane of the roads from Ilisan, Irolu, Ijebu-Ijesha to Ago-Iwoye and other township roads which are becoming impassable day and night.

Awobona said: "Let me quickly and equivocally state here that Professor Sanya Onabamiro Model School which should have added to this glory is left to rot away just like that. This is a huge infrastructural education facility which should have been released to Ago-Iwoye Central Development Council (ACDC) management with adequate support always enjoyed from its compatriots both at home and in diaspora, to uplift and reawake the dying scholastic giant in our youth".

The Chairman of the occasion, Oluomo (Dr) Femi Bakre, while delivering his address commended the leadership of Ago-Iwoye Central Development Council (ACDC) both past and present for their relentless contributions to the development of Ago-Iwoye via their numerous community development projects that have been executed over the years.

He said the various development projects such as City Hall and Community Hospital executed by ACDC would not have been possible if not for the judicious spending of donations generated from the annual Ago-Iwoye Day Celebration which has further confirmed that Ago-Iwoye Day Celebration is not just about jamboree, but also an avenue to mobilize funds for the collective development of the town.

Bakre urged the ACDC to continue in this stride, as he thanked its entire membership for honouring him with the Chairmanship of the event.

The Chairman appreciated Ogun State Government for its contributions to the development of Ago-Iwoye and appealed to the governor to kindly prioritize Ago-Iwoye in the area of provision of adequate infrastructural facilities that will commensurate with the size, population and emerging businesses in the town.

Oluomo Bakre called on the governor to come to the aid of Ago-Iwoye in tackling the humongous security challenges facing the town and its people.

The Chairperson of the occasion, Alhaja Medinat Kazeem, in her message congratulated ACDC for the various successes recorded since the beginning of the annual Ago-Iwoye Day Celebration which had brought developments to the town.

Alhaja Kazeem appealed to all indigenes of Ago-Iwoye to see themselves as stakeholders in the Ago-Iwoye project and work individually and collectively to uplift the town.

The Ebumawe of Ago-Iwoye, Oba Abdul-Razaq Adesina Adenugba expressed joy at the success of this year's Ago-Iwoye Day Celebration, saying that the people of Ago-Iwoye have always made him proud.

He prayed for more progress and development of the town, adding that the peaceful atmosphere in the town was as a result of the support he enjoys from indigenes of the town.

He charged all Sons and Daughters of Ago-Iwoye to continue to work for the progress development of the town at all times.

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, who was represented by the Secretary to Ogun State Government, Tokunbo Talabi, in his speech congratulated Oba Abdul-Razaq Adesina Adenugba and all Sons and Daughters of Ago-Iwoye for being part of the significant and memorable event.

Abiodun said Ago-Iwoye Day Festival represents a major commercial activity that fosters economic integration and development within the Ijebu community, uniting all Ijebus across religious divides.

The governor said his administration is committed to promoting "our cultural values, harnessing the long-standing potential of our people and our land to drive indigenous economic enterprises, create employment opportunities and ultimately establish Ogun State as a vibrant and sustainable tourism destination.

Highpoints of the 2023 Ago-Iwoye Day Celebration was conferment of Awards on deserving sons and daughters of the town for their contributions to the development of Ago-Iwoye.