By Editor
Signifying the official closing ceremony of the 2024 Udiroko Festival which started two weeks ago, a Thanksgiving service was held yesterday at the Anglican Church Cathedral Okesa in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State Capital.
As expected, the joyous occasion was no less a display of rich Yoruba traditional attires as congregants from all walks of life, filled the capacity church auditorium earlier to witness the grand finale of the yearly traditional festival.
The Ewi of Ado Ekiti HRM Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe Aladesanmi 11 CON, JP accompanied with his Queen, Eyesorun led his frontline chiefs, the Ewi-In-Council and others to appreciate God on the successful 2024 Udiroko Festival.
The prisiding priest of the Church and Cathedral Administrator, Venerable Simeon Olajobi in his homily, paid a glowing tributes to the Ewi for the peace and progress that prevail in the city during his reign and pray for the monarch to live longer than his predecessors..
The monarch while responding to questions from newsmen appreciated God for the gift of life to see the day in good health noting that it has been the age long tradition of the town to observe the annual festival which ensures the coming together of all Ado sons and daughters to celebrate their place of birth.
He offered his royal blessings to all his subjects at home and in the diaspora progress, peace and prosperity.
Speaking in similar vein, the Secretary of the Udiroko Festival who doubles as the Chief Scribe of APU, Ado Ekiti umbrella body world wide, Prince Toyin Akingbade in a chat with our correspondent described the just concluded Udiroko Festival as the best in terms of success, innovation and organisation.
His words: “Udiroko Festival is a unique cultural festival of Ado people which had been in existence since 1310 AD and has come to attain a special recognition even among the South Western States”
He used the occasion to express his profound gratitude to sons and daughters of Ado Ekiti who made their presence felt and their support to the Ewi with special recognition of Ado Progressive union APU.
Akingbade noted that the 2024 Udiroko Festival marked a new departure from the previous ones in terms of new ideas and innovation noting that subsequent editions will be better without losing its cultural values.
“Without doubt, this year’s edition took a new dimension, new phase and new phenomenon that we the organizers were amazed by the outcome and the success recorded before during and after the festival and by the grace of God, next year will witness another huge landmark as we are going to reassess and review our activities generally so that next year’s Festival will be a step to the next level globally”
