Organisers of the internationally acclaimed Ojude Oba Festival in Ijebu-Ode have announced that Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, will attend the 2026 edition of the annual cultural celebration as the Special Guest of Honour.
The organisers also revealed that the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, alongside several notable personalities from different parts of the country, is expected to grace the festival, which traditionally takes place shortly after the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
Ojude Oba, regarded as one of Nigeria’s foremost cultural festivals, attracts hundreds of Ijebu sons and daughters from within and outside the country every year.
The organisers further dismissed widespread speculations suggesting that the 2026 edition of the festival might not hold following the passing of the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, assuring the public that preparations for the event were already at an advanced stage.
Speaking during a world press conference in Ijebu-Ode, the Coordinator of the festival, Prof. Fassy Yusuf, described Ojude Oba as a timeless cultural heritage that has continued to unite the Ijebu people across religious, cultural and social backgrounds.
According to him, the 2026 edition of the festival is scheduled for Friday, May 29, 2026, with the theme, “Ojude Oba 2026: Celebrating the Legacy of Oba Sikiru Adetona.”
He explained that the theme was carefully chosen to honour the late monarch’s immense contributions to the preservation of culture, tradition and the global recognition attained by the festival during his reign.
Prof. Yusuf disclosed that about 90 Regberegbe age-grade groups and 25 Balogun warlord families are expected to participate in the colourful procession, cultural displays and horse-riding performances that have become major highlights of the annual event.
He added that security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army and the Federal Road Safety Corps, have been mobilised to ensure effective security and traffic management throughout the celebration.
The coordinator urged residents and visitors to conduct themselves peacefully, stressing that Ojude Oba remains a symbol of unity, cultural pride and religious harmony among the Ijebu people.
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