By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The 2022 edition of the annual Okeho Day Celebration will hold on Saturday, November 26, the organisers have confirmed.
In a disclosure, it was stated that sons and daughters of the Okeho, the headquarters of the Kajola Local Government area of Oyo State, would have the opportunity to partake in different activities lined up for one week, culminating on D-Day.
“We are set for the homecoming of our sons and daughters from all across the world to mark another historic event in our hometown with pomp and pageantry.
“It is always a joyous occasion where we celebrate our achievers, motivate our youngsters and also showcase the beauty of our community to the world,” the Onjo of Okeho, Oba Rafiu Osuolale Mustapha, Adeiitan II said.
“With myriads of self-developmental efforts of the town, we are delighted to say that our community has continued to experience tremendous growth from the confederation of eleven independent communities, namely Alubo, Bode, Gbonje, Ijo, Imoba, Isia, Isemi, Oke-Ogun/Ogbinte, Ogan, Olele and Ashin/Pamo. The new quarters are Ilupeju, Asaka, Ajegunle (Abu),” Meseole, Ojete, Opin, the Oba added.
The Secretary of the Central Planning Committee, Pastor Tim Amosun, while reeling out the programmes of activities for the weeklong celebration, said there would be an interdenominational church thanksgiving service; an interschool quiz competition scheduled to take place at Onjo Secondary High School, Okeho; a community-wide clean-up Day; and a political summit.
Other activities are an economic summit; Gbagede Oba, where all the quarters and community societies pay homage to Kabiyesi, the chief host, the custodian of the norms, values, culture, and tradition of town; a Jumaat prayer and a novelty football match.
According to him, these activities will commence on Sunday, November 20, assuring residents and visitors of their safety as efforts are being made to cross the t(s) and dot the i(s)
The Chairman of the Central Planning Committee, Dr Leye Babalola, disclosed that this year’s Okeho Day is another call to build the town continually.
“We are converging again for a weeklong celebration to fraternize with one another. The main project to be commissioned during the celebration is solar street lighting for the Okeho community,” he said.
On his part, the Chairman of Egbe Omo Ibile, Mr Azeez Lakanla, called on the sons and daughters of Okeho, both home and abroad, to contribute immensely towards the success of the programme and the development of their source.
Okeho is a valley-town agrarian community surrounded by seven hills: Eti-Igun, Oke-Olofin, Akasube, Biayin, Okofori, Meseole and Obaapa.
