On Sunday 26
October, 2013 all roads literally led to St. Michael Anglican Church, Okemesi, and
the venue of the thanks giving service ceremony to mark
the end of the one week Okemesi-Ekiti Day celebration, in Ekiti Local
Government Area of Ekiti State.
Before that day, on Friday 25th
October Okemesi had solemnly emptied themselves at the popular Okemesi Central
Mosque for jumaat service, where they gathered to give thanks to the Almighty
Allah for His mercy and protection of the community. They also prayed for the
land of Okemesi and asked Allah for His abundant blessings in the years ahead.
Special
guest and important dignitaries from all over the country conveyed at the venue
of the event to celebrate with His royal Majesty, Oba Michael Gbadebo Adedeji,
Ecipsmn, Ariyowonye II, The Owaooye of Okemesi Land and his entire people of
Okemesi-Ekiti.
The
Chairman of the Planning Committee, Bisi Adedire gave his speech on the essence
of the event. According to him, the focus of the Okemesi Day celebration since
its inception has been the reunion of indigenes, both home and abroad and for
the purpose of social interaction and mutual relations.
He
said such relationship translates into meaningful development for the
community.
“Every
other agenda are only secondary. So I encourage us to relate and interact and
as well inform others who are yet to be a part of this”, he stated.
“On
this ground, I would like to implore the community heads to look at the
possibility of staging this occasion along with one of the well-attended
festivals like the Ladunwo Egungun Festival. This would avail many more the
opportunity to be a part of this occasion and also boost the publicity.” He praised the determination of the indigenes
of Okemesi for their self-development drive and urged them to continue to build
their community. “Our community has witnessed tremendous transformation over
the years under the aegis of various bodies and associations in conjunction
with the federation of Okemesi Improvement Union (FOIU)”, he said. “However,
topmost on the agenda for further community development is the instating of
institution of higher learning. Okemesi Institute of Technology. This is no
wild dream as a similar feat has been achieved at Igbajo and Imesi-Ile, Osun
State”. Adedire explained that the dream
of building high institution in the community was gradually being realized as
the Certificate of Occupancy (C/O), for the 51.674 hectare site has been
granted by the Ekiti State Government. He stated that Master Plan for the
institution has been prepared by competent professionals. “This has facilitated
approval from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), who recently
showed the green light for the commencement of educational activities. Thus,
what is left of our dream’s realization is the capital for the physical
development of the institution. I hereby encourage us to freely donate towards
this project that would live long after us”, he said.
From
the throne, was the royal father’s speech which was also delivered by no other
person than HRM, Oba Michael Gbadebo Adedeji.
In his goodwill message, Adedeji said the
event was meant to thank those who have assisted the community in her various levels
of development and progress. “Meanwhile, I must appreciate my fellow
celebrants-all Okemesi sons and daughters whose patriotic dispositions towards
the development and progress of the town have earned us great respect among our
neighbours. Of foremost mention is Okemesi Integral Club who is hosting this
year’s Okemesi Day with her ever dynamic planning Committee without which
whatever has been in the pipeline for this great day would have been a mirage”,
Oba Gbadebo Adedeji said. “At this juncture, as we celebrate, I will like
Okemesi to ponder a little on those things that belittle our entity as a
leading community in Ekiti State”.
However,
the Oba used the occasion to remind his subjects about their unfinished project
and challenged them on the way forward.
“Where
for more than a decade, we are yet to find solutions to the completion of a
quarter-kilometer road that leads visitors to the land of the brave, Where our
kind of electricity supply is one that is the most epileptic and frustrating in
this part of the state”, Oba Adedeji spoke retrospectively. “We need to
reconnect our line with Ita-Awure axis so that we can be linked to the State
grid. This age-long problem has been channeled to the appropriate quarters but
with action yet to be expected till date? Okemesi’s 1.5 kilometer share of the
5 kilometer local government township road is yet to be completed? And Okemesi
is long overdue for designation as a local government Area Authority-the status
she lost to visionless past administrations in the 20th century”.
Speaking at the ceremony, the President, Okemesi Integral Club, Dr Yinka
Olagunju said the club’s acceptance to anchor this year’s edition wasn’t
abstract but rather an evidence of fact based on the given outstanding
performance of two members of the organizing committees of the two previous
editions in the past. He said the present organizing committee was put together
by integral Club under the chairmanship of Mr. Bisi Adedire. According to him,
Adedire worked assiduously to make the event a unique spectacle. As you might
have noticed, the theme of Okemesi Day 2013 is hinged on the Institution of
Technology. The idea of having a higher institution of learning in Okemesi has
been ruminated for some time. Concerted efforts have been made and some measure
of success has been recorded. We must all share the belief that it is possible
and achievable and summon the will power to mobilize our resources, both human
and material to make it happen”, he stated. “Advocacy at governmental level
must also be intensified. Fellow brothers and sisters, our friends and well
wishers, as we wine and dine and savor our rich cultural heritage, we must not
lose sight that now is the time to gird our loins and brace up to the
challenges of making the institute of technology ‘a fait accompli’ by donating
generously to this noble course”. Olagunju challenged the youths of the area to
realize that their future is very important as leaders of tomorrow.
“You
hold the ace for making our dear community a safe and secure one. Your dream of
today is the life you shall live tomorrow”, Olagunju counseled.
For
the National President Federation of Okemesi Improvement Unions, Chief
Nathaniel Akinsola Ogunwole, it was a time to implement some of the
developmental projects of the community. Okemesi our beloved town has been
undergoing gradual face lift pioneered by the effort of the umbrella body,
FOIU, State and Local Government and other Agencies. We want to thank the State
Government for completing the Ijero-Okemesi and the Ita-Awure-Okemesi Road
baring the few kilometers from Okemesi City Central Roundabout to Ita-Ode, the
gateway to Ekiti State from Osun State through Okemesi.”, he stated.
“The Okemesi Water Rehabilitation Scheme is
progressing at a very slow pace as the whole town water distribution network is
yet to be effectively covered. The Hospital building rehabilitation is ongoing.
We implore the State Government to backup this with basic hospital equipment to
enhance diagnosis, treatment and other health care delivery”.
Ogunwole
described Okemesi as people of achievers adding that they wouldn’t stop asking
for more from the people and government until their dream of owning their own
institution is achieved.
“Our
community has over the years committed time, money and energy into setting up a
higher institution which has to be suspended due to financial constraints,” he
stated.
“We
have severally made attempts to the State Government for sitting of a higher
institution, be it main, satellite or other specialized institution. This issue
is again being revisited by the community and plans are ongoing for the
continuation of the development plan of the Institute of Technology- Okemesi”.
He however used the occasion to condemn the high level of political thuggrey
ravaging the state and warned the community not to be part of evil politics.
“While we are proud of the political
appointees, we are not so proud of the political thuggery and brigandage of the
few political groups currently being exhibited within the town and beyond. These
actions are so embarrassing to Okemesi that we appeal to the leaders of these
political parties to keep their wards in check”, he warned.
“Their
misdemeanor collectively impact on entire people of the town. Despite this
localized problems, we are happy that the present government policies and
projects are impacting positively on the community”.
His Excellency, the executive
Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi addresses the people of
Okemesi. In his speech, he promise to
complete the road linking the town to Osun state, He also assured the indigenes of Okemesi of
the share of 5km township road, and concluded by making a promise to assist the
community on the proposed Okemesi Institute of Technology.
The
fiesta that marked the 16th edition of Okemesi day celebration was full of
hopes. The solemnly affair of that
epoch-festival will remain ever green in the minds of Okemesi Ekiti people in
Ekiti, Ekiti State, south west Nigeria because this year’s focus was on the celebration
of Okemesi heritage, as well as the implementation of some developmental programmes
in the community.
The
foremost issue of that celebration was the continuation of the developmental efforts
of the people Okemesi and fund raising for the proposed Okemesi Institute of
Technology (OIT).
The
event kicked off with various activities and programmes. It started with free
medical services on 24th and 25thOctober, 2013. Over 600 people benefited from the programme
and medical services as there was free eye test, Blood Pressure (BP) checks.
Diabetic test and malarial tests were conducted on people. As that was not
enough, there was free health talk show and seminars which was delivered by medical
experts on various issues. Also, drugs and eye glasses were also distributed to
people freely.
As
if that wasn’t enough, there was quiz and debate competitions among schools in
Okemesi –Ekiti. The Football match, which was the height of the day, was played
between Okemesi Grammar School and Fabunmi Memorial High School.
Okemesi Grammar School won the match on
penalty shoot-out and lifted the trophy. The Grand finale of the 16th
Okemesi day celebration took place on Saturday 26th October, 2013 at
Fabunmi Memorial High School Okemesi –Ekiti.
The Okemesi day celebration was
also commemorated with traditional /cultural dances by school, social group and
masquerade display of Egungun Oba, Soyoyo and eg unguns Olode masquerades. The
people were also treated with good live band music at the occasion. There was fund raising for the developmental
projects by various groups and from the people of Okemesi including their
in-laws and invited quests. The event was spiced with several awards presented
at the occasion to the worthy awardees. HRM Oba Fatai Adisa Irawo-Ogunsi,
Ojomo-Eyisha, Akinwunmi (J.P) M.INST.M, Oba of Odi-Olowo, Mushin, Lagos, Chief
S.O Bolarinde, Chief Kunle Ojo and TPL. Bisi Adedire received awards.
No comments:
Post a Comment