By Gboyega Adekanye
As it would be expected of an event that was last held more than a decade ago, the Oro Day 2023 kicked off last Friday, April 28, as an impressive cultural extravaganza. It was heralded by the arrival of sons, daughters, friends and well-wishers of Oro from everywhere within Nigeria and around the globe.
As music is the soul of every social gathering, the Lakele Square, at the centre of the ancient town, bubbled with a live band headed by an home grown musician. The few people who found their way to the Lakele Square after the long journey felt relaxed and they got entertained with merriment into the late night.
The day’s event kick started early enough in the morning with displays from the Paka Egungun (cultural masquerades) alongside the Igunu, dancing round Oro, a city often called the small London. Sons and daughters with friends and well wishers were arriving in droves from different part of the nation and globe. Oro became characteristically filled with smiles, fun, jeers and excitement as people are reconnecting, exchanging pleasantries and moving round the city to felicitate with the home hosts.
In the afternoon, the Jumaat Prayers was observed at the Oro Central Mosque, Oro and a short prayer session and teaching was led by the Chief Imam of the mosque, Alhaji Mikail Jumu’ah Onisan, in the open space beside Lakele Square.
One take home from the teaching of the Imam was that, sons and daughters of Oro should do all they can to ensure the development of Oro. He emphasized the need for modern infrastructural development within Oro community and human capacity development with the inclusion of Oro sons and daughters making important impact in different sectors of the economy and industry.
Shortly after the Jumaat service, the Kwara United Football Team bus drove into town led by the Chairman of the team. Within minutes, the Smart City FC, Lagos, arrived in their multicolour bus led by the team’s chairman who is also a son of the soil.
The College of Education, Oro, football pitch became the next spotlight center that will host the novelty football match slated for Oro Day Celebrations.
As at 3:30p.m, the football pitch was packed filled with spectators watching the warm up of the two teams. The novelty football match had in attendance important and eminent personalities. The football match was played amidst so much fun and excitement as fans were cheering the two teams on to victory. The game ended with both sides scoring one goal a piece.
The Lakele Square came to full spotlight immediately after the sporting display. Guests led by the high chiefs with other titled chiefs and some dignitaries moved into the city square for an evening of entertainment. Different cultural troupes took to the centre of the square to display and show off some talisman skills to the consternation and excitement of the seated guests and crowds. The Igunuko and their men displayed their acrobatic skills. The Egun Elerin and their drummers danced round the square. The Sango olukose and his young team also set the stage ablazed with fire displays and other amazing metaphysical shows.
The egungun Elewe was the last to display. A peculiar characteristics of their display was to eulogize every compound oriki (cognomen) in full while dancing gracefully to the beat of the bata drummers. It was such an amazing display.
While the display was ongoing the President of Oro Community, Professor Bode Bojuwoye led the Honourable Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed together with his wife and entourage into the square.
The Nigerian National Anthem and Oro Anthem were sang aloud by all. The Honourable Minister went round the square to pay homage to all the high chiefs and other dignitaries. And then, activities for the evening continued.
The fact that the Honourable Minister for Information and Culture was seated, each cultural display was repeated briefly all over again. Those who arrived late due to traffic or other delays on their journey had the privilege of viewing the display all over again. It was such a pleasant night of total culture and traditions of the Oro people.
Many stayed late into the night at the Lakele Square with the main brand company International Breweries makers of Trophy premium lager beer with their full sound system entertaining the crowd. The day’s activities was live on Facebook pages and on YouTube while others joined via internet video calls. It was a night to be remembered for long in Oro.
The event continued on Saturday, April 29 with the Fanty Carnival display by the children, teenagers and young people in Oro. They went on parade with colourful calisthenics display all around the city.
Being the D-day, the first program of the day was the commissioning of the 80 Beds Mother and Child (Multipurpose) Hospital along the Oro – Omu-Aran Express Way, Oro.
The Council of Traditional Chiefs of Oro led by the Asanlu Oro in their numbers were seated ahead of the program. Also seated were members of the Traditional Chief Council from Esie community, all sons and daughters of Oro, friends and other dignitaries.
The official commissioning began with the arrival of the government dignitaries which included the Senior Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria on Sustainable Development Goals, Princess Adejoke Orelope Adefulire, Kwara State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Raji Razak (representing the Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdurahman AbduRasaq), SSA to the Governor of Kwara State on Sustainable Development Goals, Dr. Jemila Ibrahim, and the Chief Host, Honourable Minister for Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed with his delectable wife who welcomed all the special government dignitaries.
The Welcome Address was taken by the SSA to the Kwara State Governor on SDG, Dr. Jemila Ibrahim, who in her address specifically stated that after the commissioning of the 80 Bed Mother and Child (Multipurpose) Hospital which will serve Oro and other neighboring communities, the centre would be managed by the Kwara State Government. She was glad to be in Oro to witness this laudable project.
In his goodwill message, Professor Bode Bojuwoye, President of Oro Community and distinguished Professor of medicine, thanked the Hon. Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed for facilitating the health project into Oro community. He appreciated everyone who contributed to the establishment of the facility particularly the Aro Family for providing the land, and also a son of Oro who yielded part of his land for the building of the Staff quarters for the facility.
In his own goodwill message, Hon. Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed was full of appreciation to the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on SDG for her commitment towards the establishment of the project. He disclosed that Oro’s Health facility is the third of such project in Kwara State. The first was sited in Eyenkorin while another one at Igbaja, Ifelodun Local Government area, was also commissioned earlier in the day.
Alhaji Mohammed emphasised that the projects were meant to reduce maternity death as well as reduce infant mortality and morbidity rates. He congratulated the Oro Community for their commitment towards the project completion in a good time. He enjoined the people of Oro and other neighboring Kwara South communities to use the facility judiciously.
The Minister thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the siting of the project in Oro. He closed his speech on a lighter note by recognising the Oro Day 2023 celebration activities. He narrated how he was entertained the night before at the Lakele Square. He invited the SSA on SDG to the President to join the celebration. He sang the community’s famous song: ‘Oro le tente, Oro d’osupa o, Oro le tente’, (Oro is at the top, Oro becomes the Moon, Oro is at the top’).
The SSA to the President on SDG, Princess Adejoke Orelope Adefulire, took to the podium for her goodwill message. She reiterated the commitment of the Buhari administration to ensuring good health care for Nigerians. She drew the attention of all to what was written on the banner to welcome all guest to the commissioning of the Oro health facility. She disclosed that the 80 Bed Mother and Child hospital has been renamed “80 Bed Multipurpose Hospital”. She said without the fathers, children would not come forth. The crowd applauded the change made to the facility’s name. She also reiterated that the facility would be handed over to the Government of Kwara State.
She enjoined the people of Oro to take advantage of the Kwara State Health Insurance Scheme for maximum benefit and to support the sustainability of the hospital facility. She congratulated the Oro Community on the occasion of the Oro Day 2023 and prayed for more happy celebrations for all. She too concluded with a song: ‘ko ni jé ase mó, odun Oro yi o, ko ni jé ase mó’ (this celebration of Oro Day will not be the last).
Speaking on behalf of Kwara State Governor, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Raji Razak, congratulated the people of Oro for playing host to the the multipurpose health facility. He assured all that the facility would be put to good use with standard operating procedure.
The Oro Traditional Council of Chiefs led by Asanlu Oro presented a gift of Aso Oke made in Oro to the SSA to the President and expressed appreciation for her tireless commitment to the completion of the Multipurpose Hospital.
After the gift presentation, the Oro Community Youth on the request of Princess Adefulire displayed the Fanty Carnival callisthenics. She danced along gracefully to the sound of trumpets and drums by the Fanty band.
Thereafter, the 80 Bed Multipurpose Hospital was commissioned for use by Dr. Raji Razak. This was followed by guided tour of the facility by the Oro Council of Chiefs, guests, Oro sons and daughters, and everyone present. The Multipurpose Hospital is a complete modern 80-bed clinic, with well equipped labour rooms, baby incubators, and other modern electronic gadgets for surgery.
In all, the people of Oro showed so much excitement seeing the fully equipped hospital ready for the use of humanity. Many expressed gratitude to President Muhammad Buhari, his SSA on SDG, and the Honourable Minister for Information and Culture, for the remarkable gift presented during the occasion of the Oro Day Celebrations.
The expansive field of St. Andrew Catholic Church, Oro, played host to all the guests who had gathered the Oro Day featuring the N500 million naira Development Appeal Fund. The program was anchored by MC Abiff Baba (Abifarin Michael), a son of the soil.
The President of Oro Community, Professor Bode Bojuwoye and the Central Planning Committee chairman, Col. Ajibade E. Olabanji (Rtd) were on ground with their team members to receive the Honourable Minister for Information and Culture accompanied by his wife, the Chief launcher, Mr. John Atunde (Alelagba), Chairman of the day, Mr. Oloruntele Dokun, and the lady Chairperson, Mrs. Theresa Omolaja Adedoyin as well as the co-launchers and other special invitees.
The roll call was made one after the other and donations were rolling in from individuals, societies, compounds, families and other well wishers of Oro. The event was marked with lots of merriment such as eating, drinking and light entertainment. The event later in the evening shifted to the Lakele Square for more entertainment. There was comedy, dance and music from the big stage mounted by the branding company of the event.
The high point of the evening was the performance by guest musician, the popular and irrepressible fuji maestro, Alhaji Abbas Akande (Obesere). He performed deep into the night and got everyone dancing.
It was such a remarkable day seeing all sons, daughters, friends and well wishers dressed in the official Ankara (Aso ebi) for the event all day. Oro Day 2023 was more of an expanded reunion in a relaxed atmosphere.
Although the 2023 Oro Day celebrations ended last Sunday with a thanksgiving service at the St Andrews Catholic Church, Oro, many people have been asking when the next will come up. Are we going to wait till another unspecified time to have this kind of colorful event?
This question seeks to beg for answers from the Oro Community leadership.
