The Vice-Chancellor of Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti, Professor Joseph Babatola Ayodele, has congratulated the Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti, His Royal Majesty, Oba Samuel Adejimi Adu, and the entire sons and daughters of Ikere-Ekiti on the successful celebration of the 2026 Odun Oba Festival.
In a congratulatory message, Professor Ayodele commended the monarch for the remarkable developmental strides witnessed in Ikere-Ekiti since his ascension to the throne. He noted that the reign of Oba Samuel Adejimi Adu has ushered in an era of peace, progress, and sustainable community development.
The Vice-Chancellor, a proud son of Ikere-Ekiti, described the Ogoga, who also serves as the Chairman of the Ekiti State Traditional Council, as a truthful, visionary, and progressive monarch whose unwavering love for his people and commitment to the growth and development of Ikere-Ekiti remain unparalleled.
Professor Ayodele particularly applauded the monarch for his innovative leadership in rebranding the hitherto celebrated Odun Ijesu into Odun Oba, transforming it into a major annual cultural festival that promotes unity, love, peace, and a strong sense of belonging among the people of Ikere-Ekiti.
He prayed that God would continue to bless Oba Samuel Adejimi Adu with long life, sound health, divine wisdom, and strength to continue providing purposeful leadership on the throne of his forefathers.
The Vice-Chancellor also called on all sons and daughters of Ikere-Ekiti, both at home and in the diaspora, to join hands with the monarch in his vision of transforming the ancient town into one of the most developed communities in Nigeria, describing the aspiration to make Ikere-Ekiti “a Big London” as achievable through collective commitment and support.
Odun Oba is an annual cultural festival that celebrates the harvest of the new yam and marks the beginning of a new year in the traditional calendar of Ikere-Ekiti. During the festival, the various quarters of the town, led by their respective chiefs, pay homage to the Ogoga with gifts and symbolic offerings. Other ethnic communities residing in Ikere-Ekiti also participate in the celebration, reflecting the town’s spirit of inclusiveness and harmony.
The festival further provides an opportunity for the people to reflect on the growth and development of Ikere-Ekiti, celebrate the achievements of its sons and daughters at home and abroad, as well as offer gratitude to God for His faithfulness and abundant blessings upon the community.