The Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) is mobilizing prominent sons and daughters of Ibadanland to support a grand, weeklong celebration of the coronation of the new Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja.
The coronation of Ladoja as the 44th Olubadan is scheduled to hold on Friday next week. In preparation, the President-General of CCII, Chief Ajeniyi Ajewole, recently inaugurated a high-profile committee co-chaired by two of Ibadan’s billionaire businessmen, Engr. Dotun Sanusi and Chief Adegboye Adegoke, to oversee the celebration.
While the Oyo State Government had earlier inaugurated a committee led by Chief Bayo Oyero to plan the September 26 coronation, CCII believes that Oba Ladoja, being a billionaire businessman, former senator, former governor, and elder statesman deserves a more elaborate and befitting celebration than those of previous Olubadans.
To make this possible, some frontline Ibadan indigenes have donated as much as ₦10 million each to support the event.
The CCII committee has gone a step further by extending the celebration beyond the official coronation day, selecting seven additional days of activities to create a full week of festivities.
To ensure that the entire nation can witness the historic event, arrangements have been made for live broadcast coverage on Arise TV, Channels Television, and TVC, as well as Solution FM, Ilaji FM, and other major radio stations.
The weeklong event will begin on Monday, September 22, with interfaith prayers at the Olubadan Palace, Oke-Aremo. This will be followed by a stage play depicting the story of Kabiyesi Arusa at Apex Hall, Yidi, Agodi area.
Tuesday will feature the Cultural Day celebration at Olubadan Stadium, while the first-ever Olubadan coronation lecture will be delivered by world-renowned historian, Prof. Toyin Falola, at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.
On Thursday, Oba Ladoja will mark his 81st birthday with Islamic prayers at the Olubadan Palace in the morning, followed by a mega praise and worship session at the Civic Centre, Agodi, in the afternoon.
Friday’s grand coronation ceremony will hold at Mapo Hall starting at 9 a.m., after which the monarch and his family will host a royal reception at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium from 3 p.m.
The celebrations will continue on Sunday, September 28, with a thanksgiving service at the Church of Ascension, Bodija, Ibadan, followed by a grand civic reception at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.
The final leg of the ceremonies will feature a Jumat service at the Ibadan Central Mosque, Oja’ba, on Friday, October 3, and a gathering of traditional worshippers at Ose Meji Temple, Oja’ba, on Saturday, October 4.
With these elaborate plans, Ibadan is set to witness an unprecedented celebration that truly reflects the stature and achievements of Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja as he ascends the throne as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland.
