The grand finale of the annual Obaruwa Festival (festival of art and culture) in Makun, area of Sagamu Local Government, Ogun State, which begins on Sunday 5th February 2023, with the theme “Promoting Our Cultural Heritage For A Secured Future”, as comes to an end yesterday, Saturday 11th 2023, as several royalty kings, dignitaries, ecstatic people of Makun Land, cultural enthusiasts and other well wishers from across the town flooded the ancient city of Makun, to join the fiesta marking the final ceremony of the 25th Obaruwa Festival at Makun High School, Sagamu.

The activities of the day started with the Ewusi Of Makun Land, His Royal Highness; Alayeluwa Oba Timothy Oyesola Akinsanya (Orugba II) leading indigent of Makun to the Obaruwa Groove for traditional rites, which was immediately followed with a walk down to the popular Awolowo Market, as the Kabiesi gives royal blessings to all the traders, Genesis Media House (GMH) reports.

The event continued with the Ewusi Akinsanya paying a condolence visit to Makun heroes tomb at Ajaka health center, Makun Sagamu. After the traditional visitation and rites that should be performed, The Orugba II also lead the huge congregations to the venue of the grand finale at Makun High School, Sagamu, as the Kabiesi was royale welcome by the traditional worshippers, high chiefs, sons and daughters of Makun Land with a glance performance.

Then, the event was declared opened by High Chief Olusegun; the Apena of Makun Kingdom, with prayers, as he blessed all the congregations and also uses the medium to appreciate and congratulate all sons and daughters of Makun Land, both home and abroad, on the occasions of the 25th Obaruwa Festival.

The Chairman of the Day; Aare Adetola Olaonipekun Emmanuelking (CEO/GMD Adron Homes) who also doubled as the Akile of Makun Kingdom, ably represented by Barrister Oluwakemi Osude, who beseach the Kabiesi and entire people of Makun for the absence of her principal, noting Aare Emmanuelking was absent due to his business trip schedule, but was also said to be at the event in spirit. “The Obaruwa Festival is a celebration of our heritage and culture, and an event were we should use our cultural language as official language to give respect to our cultural heritage. It is on this, I’m congratulating the Kabiesi Oba Akinsanya, sons and daughters of Makun Kingdom, both home and abroad, on the occasions of their 25th Obaruwa Festival, as i prayed we shall all witness many more of it”, Barrister Osude said.

The Chairman of the 25th Obaruwa Festival Planning Committee, Otunba Atoloye who also doubled as the Otunba Obaruwa of Makun Kingdom, noted that “the fiesta involves various socio- economic and traditional activities as the festival represents traditional cleansing of the town and cultural reunion of the people with their ancestors and founders of the Obaruwa”, Otunba Atoloye said while congratulating and welcoming all the congregations to the event.

In the act of donation, the former Governor of Ogun State and APC 2023 candidate for Ogun East Senatorial District, who’s the Father of the Day for the event; Otunba Gbenga Daniel (OGD) who also doubled as the Otunba Asoludero of Makun Kingdom, donated 2.5million Naira for the support of the construction of Obaruwa Cultural Center, while he also felicitated with the Ewusi, as he also pledge to do more developmental project that will adds more cultural value to the fiesta and the community at large.

As part of the agenda of the day, all winners from the competition hosted during the week-long festival were also rewarded, which also includes the public presentation of the new Mr. and Miss Obaruwa 2023; Dada Taiwo and Oluwatobiloba Mayungbo.

The event also witnessed traditional worshippers with their cultural display, chanting and singing, Cultural dance from different groups, award presentations, and gifts to the Ewusi from several organization and groups, and total jubilations and celebrations was the concluding activity of the day, with various Security personnel seen at strategic places at the event, to include the FRSC personnel, the Nigerian Police, with large members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (Makun Chapter), several private security agency, were fully available for safeguarding and safety monitoring of the event.

Some personalities present at the grand finale event were; the MHR representing the good people of Remo Constituency at the Green Chamber, who’s the Mother of the Day; Hon. (Otunba) Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga -IJAYA, who also doubled as the Yeye Oba of Makun Kingdom, the Lawmaker representing the Makun people at the Ogun State House of Assembly; Hon. Adeniran Ademola popularly known as Sapele, the 2023 PDP candidate for the Ogun State House of Assembly for Makun Sagamu Constituency II and the Aare Akin of Makun Land; Hon. Olapeju Abiodun, Alaye of Ode Remo, Alado of Ado, Atawa of Latawa and some royal king’s across Remo Land, the executives of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) Sagamu Branch led by Comr. Ayoola Aduroja, the leadership of the Association of Sabo Sagamu Youth Leaders (ASSYL) led by Comr. Aina Olusola Bashir, several political elites, high chiefs, notable dignitaries, sons, and daughters of the soil.

GMH further reports that some residents in the area such as food vendors, souvenir sellers and other related business enterprises took advantage of the festival to market their goods and service.