By John Dike, Osogbo
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has called for increased investment in the cultural heritage of Ile-Ife, saying the ancient city’s rich history, monuments and traditions could be harnessed to drive tourism, employment, enterprise and economic growth.
He made the call on Saturday through his Deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi, who represented him at the grand finale of the 2026 Olojo Cultural Festival in Ile-Ife.
The colourful event, which attracted traditional rulers, government officials, dignitaries, cultural enthusiasts, tourists and visitors from within and outside Nigeria, climaxed with the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, adorning the sacred Are Crown as part of the traditional observance.
After adorning the crown, the Ooni proceeded on the traditional procession from his palace to Oke Mogun, accompanied by a large crowd of indigenes, residents, cultural enthusiasts and visitors.
At Oke Mogun, the monarch performed traditional rites associated with the festival, symbolically reaffirming the ancient connection between Oduduwa, Ile-Ife and Ogun.
Speaking at the ceremony, Adewusi congratulated the Ooni and the people of Ile-Ife for the successful celebration of the festival, describing Olojo as an important platform for preserving and promoting Yoruba history, culture and traditions.
He urged stakeholders to place the development of Ile-Ife at the centre of their collective efforts, stressing that the ancient city possessed enormous cultural and economic potential.
“We all seek for the growth and development of Ile-Ife. We should put Ife first in all sectors,” the Deputy Governor said.
Adewusi commended the Ooni for his leadership and fatherly role in Ile-Ife, saying the monarch had continued to provide a platform through Olojo for the people of the city and visitors from different parts of the world to celebrate and showcase its cultural heritage.
He described Olojo as a bridge between generations, connecting contemporary society with the history, wisdom, values and traditions inherited from the ancestors.
“For us, Olojo represents a return to the source. It is the time to remember where we come from, to honour our ancestors and to reaffirm the values and traditions that sustain our people across generations.
“Our culture is one of our greatest assets. We must preserve it and present it to the world. Our heritage can become a powerful driver for tourism, employment and enterprise,” he said.
The Deputy Governor further noted that Ile-Ife was endowed with numerous historical sites, monuments and cultural attractions capable of attracting tourists and creating economic opportunities for residents if properly preserved, developed and promoted.
He said strategic investment in the city’s cultural assets would not only strengthen cultural preservation but also contribute to the socioeconomic development of Osun State.
Adewusi also commended the Ooni for his efforts to give Ile-Ife greater visibility on the global cultural map through the promotion of Olojo and other initiatives designed to connect the ancient city with the wider world.
“Ile-Ife has many destinations and assets. It has history and monuments. We should preserve these assets.
“Under the leadership of the Ooni, Olojo has gained wider recognition and has become an important platform for cultural expression, tourism and economic opportunity.
“Your efforts to connect the heritage of Ile-Ife to the wider world demonstrate that traditional institutions can continue to play a significant role in contemporary society,” he said.
The 2026 Olojo Festival also attracted international visitors, including cultural enthusiasts from Canada, Brazil and South Africa.
Their participation added an international dimension to the celebration and underscored the growing interest in Ile-Ife’s cultural heritage among members of the African diaspora and other visitors from around the world.
The Ooni had earlier dedicated the spiritual activities of the 2026 Olojo Festival to prayers for Nigeria, seeking peace, unity, healing and sustainable progress for the country.
The monarch urged Nigerians and stakeholders across the country to embrace unity, stressing that cooperation remained essential to achieving meaningful development.
He prayed for divine intervention, national healing and recovery, while urging Nigerians to embrace peace, tolerance and love and rise above ethnic and religious differences.
“I am praying for Nigeria and for Nigerians. I seek Olodumare’s mercy upon this land. May we all experience peace, unity, progress and the blessings of the Almighty.
“To the sons and daughters of Oduduwa everywhere, I urge you: be peaceful, be united and let us work together for progress,” the Ooni said.
The traditional ruler also appealed to political leaders to govern with fairness, justice and compassion, stressing that the welfare and wellbeing of citizens must remain a major priority in governance.
He maintained that no society could achieve sustainable development when the concerns and welfare of its people were neglected.
