Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has made a passionate appeal to State and Local Governments, as well as traditional rulers across Southwest Nigeria, to support the revival and sustenance of cultural festivals.
Iba Adams made the call while emphasising the dual spiritual and economic benefits of cultural festivals at the 2026 edition of the Grandmothers’ Festival organised by the Olokun Festival Foundation (OFF) in Epe, Lagos, on Wednesday.
In the same vein, Hon. Abiodun Tobun, member representing Epe Constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly, stressed the need for the elite in Yorubaland to begin to support cultural festivals because they embody our heritage as a people.
Iba Adams said that festivals are not only spiritual celebrations but vital economic drivers that foster cultural preservation, social unity, and community empowerment.
“Spiritually, festivals reinforce cultural identity, communal bonds, and provide platforms for thanksgiving and renewal.
“Economically, they attract tourism, stimulate commerce, create employment, and promote entrepreneurship. For instance, we can see examples in festivals such as the Osun-Osogbo, Ojude-Oba, and Olumo-Lisabi festivals, which generate billions of naira annually,” he noted.
Iba Adams observed that the Grandmothers’ Festival, which is now in its eighth year in Epe, has been a catalyst for remarkable socio-economic and political development in the town.
Adams detailed the establishment of several educational institutions, including Lagos State University (LASU) campuses, the Eco-Health College of Health Science and Management Technology, Lagos State University of Education, Augustine University Ilara, Yaba College of Technology, and the new Federal University of Science and Technology, as some of the developments that have been drawn to Epe since it began hosting the festival.
He also highlighted government plans for an international airport in Epe and the upgrade of the Epe General Hospital to a federal facility, noting that the town has witnessed a surge in hotels, recreational centres, and modern estates, developments he attributed partly to the festival’s influence.
Adams underscored the spiritual foundation of these physical advancements, asserting that every good thing in the physical realm must first be established spiritually. He praised traditional rulers in Epe for embracing and celebrating various festivals, which collectively contribute to the town’s rapid progress.
On his part, the Alayandelu of Odo-Ayandelu, His Royal Majesty, Obama Asunmo Gani Aderibigbe, stressed the need to continue sustaining our traditional practices and cultural festivals as our heritage.
He encouraged more traditional rulers to take a cue from the OFF and join the train of sustaining the Yoruba traditional practices and beliefs.
Speaking at the event, Hon. Abiodun Tobun praised Iba Adams and the OFF for championing cultural renaissance in Yorubaland and beyond.
Hon. Tobun pledged to rally the support of the elite and political class in Epe for future festivals to make them more colourful.
