By Sola Balogun, Ado Ekiti
On Saturday November 21, prominent sons and daughters of Isan Ekiti, a serene town in Ekiti State will join the royal father and their relations at home in the historic celebration of this year’s Isan Unity Day. The yearly feast, which welcomes all sons and daughters of the town to an assemblage of family units and age groups, shall take centre stage at Abulesoro Civic Centre, located within the palace ground in the town. Designed as a yearly celebration to unite the township and its people, the ceremony shall mark its 34th edition this year, featuring a number of activities centred on the social, economic and cultural development of the town.
According to His Royal Majesty, Oba Gabriel Ayodele Adejuwon ( Adetila Ilufemiloye the First), this year’s Isan Day shall feature the official commissioning of the Abulesoro Multi-Purpose Hall; a 300 million naira fundraising for community development projects as well as conferment of chieftaincy titles on deserving personalities. Oba Adejuwon disclosed that since ascending the throne of his forefathers in 2017, he has inspired and supervised key projects that have brought development to the town, and that this year, the Isan Day shall rally both the old and young Isan indigenes in a communal celebration of love, unity and cultural heritage of the people. Explained the Kabiyesi’ We are delighted to hold another Isan Day this year with the hope of bringing back our sons and daughters, friends and in-laws to another historic moment. This ceremony started as far back as 1989 through the vision of the Late Hon (Chief) Bade Gboyega who proposed a united platform to bring everyone who is related to the town together for peaceful celebration, fundraising for development projects and showcase of the town’s culture and tradition.’
Oba Adejuwon hinted that the Isan Unity Day is strategically focused on the youths and the elderly alike, mainly to reintegrate the younger generation into fruitful career development, talent hunt and cultivation of industrial and leadership skills. Speaking specifically on the promotion of arts and culture during the day, the royal father noted that different associations and groups are expected to appear in diverse cultural attires while pavilions would be installed for the exhibition of the ceramics and locust beans being produced by the townspeople. ‘Isan is traditionally known for the production of pottery and locust beans, this year, our youths and all guests shall be cultivated into the production of pottery and locust beans, while showcasing our indigenous cultural dances and fabrics such as Aso Oke, Adire and many others’ explained Kabiyesi, noting that the elderly people who are not less than 85 years old shall be celebrated and honoured during the ceremony.
Chairperson Organising Committee Dr Mrs Yetunde Fosudo, described the Day as a unifying platform for the progress and celebration of the unique attributes of the town and its people. Fosudo recalled the invaluable contributions of the royal father and some of the illustrious sons and daughters of the town; former governor Dr John Kayode Fayemi (Asiwaju Oluomo of Isan kingdom), his wife, Erelu Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi (Erelu of Isan kingdom), Prof Matthew Oluwamukomi (national president), Barrister Dayo Apata (patron and host who is sponsoring a free medico-surgical outreach for the Isan/Ilafon communities on November 13 at Isan Ekiti Basic Health Centre) among many others. She hinted that the foundation of a youth development center by Senator Cyril Fasuyi shall be laid for the training of youths in different vocational skills, while the tree-planting and nurturing exercise by key families during the ceremony shall be launched during the Isan Day ceremony. According to Fosudo, the yearly platform shall continue to fulfill its vision of ‘building skills, creating innovations and promoting the culture of hard work, creativity and perseverance among the youths and elders in the town’.
