The people of Ilobu town, headquarters of Irepodun Local Government Area of the state, are set to host Governor Rauf Aregbesola and his deputy, Chief (Mrs.) Grace Laoye-Tomori, among other dignitaries, as the community celebrates the 26th annual Ilobu Day ceremony.
The grand finale of the week-long event is scheduled to hold on Saturday, November 10, and will be hosted by the monarch of the town, His Royal Majesty, Oba Ashiru Olatoye Olaniyan as the Royal Father of the Day, while one of his proud subjects and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Lasun Yusuf, will serve as the Chief Host.
In a statement issued yesterday by the Ilobu Development Union, umbrella body for the sons and daughters of the nascent community, and signed by the union’s National Secretary, Mr. Dare Alabi, the annual ceremony will commence on Wednesday, November 7, with health talk and medical checks and care for the aged and cultural plays.
Other activities lined up to mark the ceremony include a lecture to be organised by the Ilobu National Students’ Union (INSU) and a football match, both scheduled for Thursday, November 8. The climax of the anniversary is a fundraising and get-together scheduled for November 10.
The National President of the union, Alhaji Dauda Adebisi-Balogun, has commended the sons and daughters of the town for what he described as their unprecedented support in kind and in cash towards the success of the anniversary.
According to Adebisi-Balogun, unlike in the past when the community used to struggle to mobilise resources for the annual celebration, many indigenes of the town both within and outside the country have volunteered to play one role or the other.
“But the ultimate will be their massive turnout at the grand finale on Saturday, November 10, where funds will be raised for community projects. Similar fundraisings held in the past have enabled us to achieve so much including the community hall, and a befitting palace which ranks as one of the best palaces in the state today,” he said.
He added that the Chairman of Global Ratafax Nigeria Limited, Alhaji Azeez Salami Basia and Alhaja Monsurat Dasola of Dasola Garment Store, will be the Chairman and Chairperson at the grand finale.
