A prominent daughter of Ado Ekiti and academic icon, Professor Mojisola Adenike Oyarekua, (nee Adejugbe) has extended warm felicitations to the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba (Dr) Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe Aladesanmi III, members of the Ado Progressives Union (APU), and all sons and daughters of Ado Ekiti at home and in the diaspora ahead of the much-anticipated 2025 edition of the Udiroko Festival.
Professor Oyarekua, a princess of Ado Ekiti and former Provost of the defunct College of Education, Ikere Ekiti, described Udiroko Festival as a unifying force that continues to uphold the ancestral identity, cultural pride, and collective aspirations of Ado indigenes globally.
In a goodwill message made available to journalists in Ado Ekiti, the erudite scholar and current member of the Governing Council of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, Princess Oyarekua congratulated Oba Adejugbe for his enduring leadership and consistent efforts in sustaining the cultural heritage of Ado land through the annual Udiroko celebrations.
She said the festival not only serves as a symbolic traditional new year for Ado Ekiti but also as a rallying point for development, peace, and the strengthening of communal bonds among indigenes and residents.
Professor Oyarekua noted that the Udiroko Festival has over the years evolved into a platform for reflection, thanksgiving, and rededication to the progress of the kingdom, adding that this year’s edition promises yet another opportunity for cultural expression, social unity, and community advancement.
According to her, “As a daughter of the soil and one who has benefited immensely from the values of discipline, hard work, and education ingrained in Ado heritage, I join millions across the globe to salute my very own father, the Ewi of Ado Ekiti Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, Aladesanmi the third, for his wisdom, grace, and steadfastness in preserving our shared identity.”
She particularly commended the leadership of the Ado Progressives Union (APU), which she described as the engine room of development initiatives driven by committed indigenes across the world, lauding the union for working in tandem with the palace and the people to champion laudable projects and humanitarian causes.
Professor Oyarekua also expressed appreciation to Ado sons and daughters in the diaspora for their continual support for the town’s development and cultural renaissance. She urged them to continue to identify with the Udiroko Festival, stressing that it is a symbol of pride and legacy that must be preserved across generations.
“The Udiroko Festival is not merely a celebration; it is a declaration of who we are as a people—resilient, united, visionary. It reminds us of the sacrifices of our ancestors and the need to carry their torch of honour, unity, and progress forward,” she said.
While calling for peaceful and joyous celebrations, she charged the younger generation to show greater interest in the town’s history and customs, which, according to her, are rich with lessons and inspiration for responsible citizenship and leadership.
She also applauded the committee in charge of Udiroko planning for consistently organizing an event that blends traditional values with modern relevance, including youth empowerment activities, health sensitization, and civic enlightenment programmes.
The former provost highlighted the importance of promoting cultural tourism through festivals like Udiroko, adding that such events have the potential to attract investors, historians, and cultural tourists to Ado Ekiti, thereby boosting the local economy and creating opportunities for artisans and creatives.
Professor Oyarekua used the opportunity to pray for continued peace in Ado Ekiti, good health and long reign for the Ewi, and increased cooperation among the people of the town, noting that unity remains the bedrock of development.
She further urged the indigenes to turn the period of the Udiroko celebration into a season of giving back to the community, supporting one another, and planning for the future of Ado land in all sectors, especially education, youth development, and social welfare.