Olokun Festival Brought Economic Development to Badagry

… Unveils Olokun World Festival

Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams on Tuesday said the recent development in Badagry could be attributed to the spiritual advantage of celebrating Olokun Festival ceaselessly for 22 years.

Iba Adams made the disclosure in Badagry during the grand finale of Olokun Festival.

The Yoruba generalissimo stated also that the foundation had made significant efforts in promoting the cultural identity of the Yoruba race in the last two decades.

He gave highlights of the various successes recorded by the organization in the course of driving the cultural promotion initiative.

“Olokun Festival has brought more spiritual gains to Badagry.Every year,we learn our voices appealing to Federal Government to complete the Lagos Badagry Express road.

The road is almost completed now and we can feel the luxury as we ply the road to Badagry.

Today, Badagry has turned out to be an oil-producing area,with the discovery of crude oil in five locations across the ancient town.

It was the Jonathan administration that had the vision to locate the largest Sea Port in Africa here in Badagry.The sea port where Ships would be repaired.But the project is yet to be executed.

“Untill recently,the number of Obas and traditional rulers in Badagry was six or seven. But the number has increased tremendously since we started celebrating Olokun Festival here in Badagry.Now,we have no fewer than 25 prominent traditional rulers in Badagry.

“It is a big record of success and complete transformation of the traditional institution in Badagry.

“As we celebrate these milestones, we be unveiling the Olokun World Festival that will catapult us to the global community”.

The royal father of the day,who is also the Olowu of Owu Kuta,Osun state,Oba Adekunle Oyelude Makama applauded the efforts of the Aare Onakakanfo for the new initiative, saying the traditional institution under the Yoruba Obas will continue to support initiatives that are tailored toward the progress of Yoruba land.

In his remarks,the chairman of the planning committee of the 2024 Olokun Festival, Barrister Yinka Oguntimehin,said with the success recorded with the grand finale,the OFF will transform the ancient town with all the plans in the pipeline.

“With the unveiling of Olokun World Festival,it is our plan to have our permanent site here in Badagry, where we build a world standard hotel near the Olokun-An hotel of global standard with over 300 rooms for accommodations and luxuries as well as three different halls for conferences and events.

Apart from the royal fathers from Badagry,there were monarchs that came from the Republic of Benin.
Others include the Oniladaba of Ladaba Kingdom Oba Nureni Ebudola Odedina Alugbin,the Onirokun of Irokun Kingdom,Oba Buhari Ola Balogun, the Onimapara of Mapara Kingdom Oba Lateef Amodemaja and members of the Aareonakakanfo Chiefs in Council.

The National Executive Council (NEC)National Coordinating Council (NCC) and OPC members were all present from across the country.