Ojude-Oba 2025: The Glitz, Glamour, And FCMB’s Enduring Legacy

The 2025 edition of the Ojude-Oba Festival has come and gone, but its grandeur and significance remain deeply etched in the history of Ijebuland. This year’s celebration stood out for its vibrant display of culture and pageantry, attracting millions of Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora.

Held three days after Eid-el-Kabir, the Ojude-Oba Festival offers the people of Ijebuland an opportunity to pay homage to their paramount ruler, the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona. Clad in colorful traditional attire, attendees celebrated the rich cultural heritage of their land.

Dignitaries in attendance included the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun; the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olayide Adelami (representing Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa); Senator Gbenga Daniel; Senator Shuaib Salisu; Deputy Governor Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele; the Governor’s wife, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun; former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba; the Asiwaju of Ijebuland and Chairman of Rite Foods, Alhaji Sulaiman Adegunwa; the Ogbeni Oja of Ijebuland, Dr. Sunny Kuku; Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Daisi Elemide; and other royal fathers, chiefs, Otunbas, horse riders, regberegbes, and sponsors.

One of the most enduring supporters of the Ojude-Oba Festival was the late Otunba Michael Olasubomi Balogun, the Olori Omo-Oba of Ijebuland and founder of First City Monument Bank (FCMB). During his lifetime, Otunba Balogun was a passionate advocate for Ijebu culture and tradition, and FCMB has carried forward his legacy with pride.

The 2025 celebration took place at the over 30,000 capacity pavilion situated opposite the Awujale's palace an iconic venue adorned with FCMB’s striking branding. The pavilion featured heartfelt messages welcoming indigenes and guests, reminding all that Otunba Balogun’s spirit still graces the festival.

Speaking on behalf of FCMB, the Divisional Head of Corporate Affairs, Mr. Diran Olojo, emphasized the bank’s commitment to culture and community, values deeply embedded in the vision of its founder. “FCMB believes in the power of culture and community. Our support for Ojude-Oba reflects our commitment to fostering inclusive, sustainable growth through connectivity and cultural preservation,” he said.

Olojo noted that FCMB’s involvement in the festival is not just corporate sponsorship, but a platform for social cohesion and economic development. “Ojude-Oba is more than an event; it’s a prideful expression of identity, tradition, and progress,” he added.

* A Legacy Built on Culture and Community

FCMB's relationship with the Ojude-Oba Festival dates back to 1985, when Otunba Subomi Balogun was conferred with the chieftaincy title of Otunba Tunwase of Ijebuland. Since then, FCMB has been a steadfast partner in the growth and preservation of Ijebu cultural heritage.

In the late 1990s, FCMB opened its first Ijebu-Ode branch at Folagbade, marking a deeper commitment to the community. The bank has since supported the Ojude-Oba Festival for over a decade, making it the longest-standing, indigenously-owned corporate sponsor of the event.

* Otunba Balogun, in his lifetime, declared:

“God gave me FCMB, and FCMB is part of me. FCMB must be interested in anything I am interested in. The only way we can show appreciation to the founders and progenitors of Ijebu people is to participate in all traditional undertakings that highlight our culture and origins.”

Otunba Olasubomi Balogun’s royal roots ran deep. On his maternal side, he was a descendant of Oba Adesimbo Tunwase, under whose reign the Ojude-Oba Festival began and who also played a key role in promoting Islam in Ijebuland. On the paternal side, he descended from Borogun, father of Balogun Kuku, a revered figure in the Ijebu war dynasty. His sense of duty toward Ijebu tradition was unquestionable and FCMB continues to uphold that legacy.

* A Celebration of Heritage and Development

In his remarks at the 2025 celebration, Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun described the festival as a powerful symbol of unity and communal harmony. He emphasized that festivals like Ojude-Oba are vital to promoting local economies, attracting global attention, and preserving cultural identity.

“The Ojude-Oba Festival aligns with our administration’s ‘Building Our Future Together’ agenda. It is a platform for cultural diplomacy and a boost to our tourism sector,” the governor stated.

Hon. Hanatu Musa, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts, praised Nigeria’s diverse cultural heritage and expressed the federal government’s readiness to work with states to harness this diversity for national development. She expressed optimism that Ojude-Oba will continue to grow, attracting both national and international tourists in years to come.

- The Issues Magazine