By John Dike Osogbo
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has celebrated the 2026 Edi Moremi Festival with a series of empowerment initiatives targeting youths, women and other members of the Ile-Ife community in Osun State.
The two-day celebration, held on Saturday, November 7, and Sunday, November 8, featured the graduation of 70 youths trained in artificial intelligence (AI) and digital skills, free medical services for more than 220 beneficiaries and the distribution of financial grants to women to support their businesses and economic activities.
The event, organised under the auspices of the Ooni of Ife and championed by the former First Lady of Ogun State and Yeye Moremi Oodua, Mrs Olufunso Amosun, also featured cultural performances, a torchlight procession and the Queen Moremi Ajasoro Beauty Pageant.
The initiatives were designed to preserve the legacy of the legendary Queen Moremi Ajasoro while translating her courage, sacrifice and determination into practical programmes that promote education, economic empowerment and community development.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Senior Media Officer of the Ooni’s Palace, Sodiq Lawal, on behalf of the Director of Media and Public Affairs, Otunba Moses Olafare, one of the major highlights was the graduation of 70 beneficiaries of the first cohort of the YMO Artificial Intelligence and Digital Skills Training Hub.
The graduates successfully completed a six-week intensive training programme established to equip young people with relevant technological competencies and prepare them for emerging opportunities in the global digital economy.
The certificate presentation ceremony took place at the Sir Adebutu Keshington Building within the palace of the Ooni of Ife.
Speaking at the event, Amosun said the initiative was inspired by the historic role of Queen Moremi Ajasoro in liberating the people of Ile-Ife from their adversaries.
She explained that the programme was designed to extend the heroine’s legacy of liberation to the younger generation by equipping them with digital competencies that could improve their employability, create entrepreneurial opportunities and promote financial independence.
“In this day and age, where everything has gone digital and there is technological advancement, we have taken it upon ourselves to liberate the upcoming generation by empowering them with digital skills and artificial intelligence to enable them to get better jobs,” she said.
Amosun disclosed that approximately 150 participants initially enrolled in the six-week programme, but only 70 qualified for graduation after meeting the attendance, commitment and performance requirements set by their instructors.
She said the decision to certify only participants who satisfied the required standards was intended to maintain the quality of the training and ensure that graduates possessed the necessary skills to represent the initiative effectively.
According to her, participants who failed to meet the graduation requirements would be given another opportunity through a two-week refresher programme before undergoing a fresh assessment.
She encouraged other young people to take advantage of the free training opportunities, stressing that the facility remained open to individuals willing to acquire digital competencies and position themselves for employment and business opportunities.
Beyond youth development, the festival also featured a free medical outreach organised by Yeye Moremi Oodua in collaboration with the Eye Foundation.
The medical intervention benefited more than 220 people, including women from the palace and residents of the wider Ile-Ife community.
Beneficiaries received free eye examinations and medical screenings, while those requiring corrective lenses were provided with prescription eyeglasses.
The outreach also included glaucoma surgeries for eligible patients, with all the services provided at no cost to the beneficiaries.
In another intervention aimed at improving women’s economic conditions, Amosun distributed financial grants to women in Ile-Ife to support their businesses, strengthen their livelihoods and promote financial independence.
The initiative formed part of the broader objectives of this year’s festival, which was celebrated under the theme, “Honouring the Past, Empowering the Future.”
Another major attraction was the annual Queen Moremi Ajasoro Beauty Pageant, an initiative of the Queen Moremi Ajasoro Global Ambassador, Her Majesty, Queen Aderonke Ogunwusi.
The pageant, which has been sustained for 11 years, seeks to promote the historical significance, courage, intelligence and selflessness of Queen Moremi Ajasoro among younger generations.
Amosun, who has consistently supported the pageant, commended the organisers for sustaining the initiative and providing a platform to celebrate the values and enduring contributions of the legendary heroine.
Also speaking, Queen Aderonke Ogunwusi said the initiative was designed to give the celebration of Queen Moremi a wider social impact beyond cultural remembrance by translating her values into practical programmes capable of improving people’s lives.
She appreciated the Ooni of Ife for providing the royal platform and support for activities promoting the legacy of Queen Moremi Ajasoro, while also commending Amosun for her consistent commitment to the initiative and its empowerment programmes.
Queen Aderonke urged the graduating trainees to put their newly acquired digital skills into productive use, noting that technology had become a major driver of employment, innovation and economic growth across the world.
She disclosed that some beneficiaries had already secured employment opportunities after participating in the programme, adding that she had personally employed some of the graduates.
According to her, investing in digital skills development would help address unemployment, stimulate job creation and contribute to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product.
Other activities lined up for the two-day celebration included the traditional Edi Moremi Festival, the flag-off of the free eye camp and health screening, a torchlight procession and the Queen Moremi Ajasoro Beauty Pageant.
The celebration brought together traditional institutions, community members and other guests to honour the historical contributions of Queen Moremi Ajasoro while promoting practical interventions aimed at improving livelihoods, expanding opportunities for young people and empowering women in the community.
