The Glitz, Glamour and Experience from Igogo Festival 2025 (From my lens & diary)

It was a memorable and impactful experience throughout the annual cultural festival as sons and daughters of owo origin both at home and in diaspora participated in the 2025 celebration to make it a successful and elaborated edition.

The festival activities lasted for weeks with different activities, traditional prayers, ancestral practices, sports, beauty pageant, music, dance and celebration of the new yam festival by the Olowo of Owo, Oba (Dr.) Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III and The council of Chiefs of the kingdom.

In the course of the festivities and ceremonies, I joined the Egbe Ilu Ekusi (community leaders of Ekusi) to observe the Ugbate ceremony which took place at Iloro with a procession to the ancient palace of owo kingdom.

The beauty pageant contests (Miss Oronshen 2025) features maidens of substance displaying cultural essence with beauty, intelligence, knowledge of owo history e. t. c as criteria used in determining the winner from the contest with active participation of owo citizens in the selection process. The winner of the Miss Oronshen was awarded with a prize of One Million Naira (₦1, 000,000) to reward, encourage and empower the young lady for her valor, confidence, determination, faith and intelligence among other contestants.

The Grand finale of the Igogo festival witness thousands of owo indigenes, tourists from diaspora, royal sons and daughters of owo, captain of industries of owo origin, political appointees, government representatives, media brands, Non Governmental Organizations (NGO) joined the Imperial Majesty and Ruler to commemorate the annual dance and blessings across the ancient city.

The festival provided an opportunity for me to meet with lawmakers representing Owo constituencies at the state level, federal government officials, industrious sons and daughters from owo, supporters, friends, families, political associates and other well wishers.

With the right support from the government, the Igogo festival has the potential to contribute and boost the Ondo state and Nigeria tourism, Art and Creative industry.

Written by : Hon. Amb. Prince Samuel Adesegun Egunjobi MBA

Founder, Rebuild Afrika ( a subsidiary of Samuel Egunjobi Empowerment foundation RC)