Alake Extols Glo As Lisabi Festival Kicks Off

The Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo flanked by the Chairman, Lisabi Festival Committee, Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi (right) and National Commercial Coordinator, Globacom, Mr. Abayomi Ogunbamowo  (left) at the press conference held on Wednesday to flag off activities for the 2017 Lisabi Festival sponsored by Globacom.

The Alake and paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, has commended national telecommunications operator, Globacom, for its support for the preservation of culture in the country.

He gave the commendation at a press conference held in his palace in Abeokuta, Ogun State, to announce the programme for the 2017 Lisabi Festival. The monarch noted that the data grand masters had through sponsorship of different festivals helped promote the country’s tourism potentials.  

“Glo is number one in culture and support for the people. The company pioneered per second billing and others followed. We are looking forward to the sale of Lisabi special SIM cards,” the Alake remarked. He also announced some changes to the calendar.

According to the traditional ruler, the activities will begin next Monday morning with the booming of guns on the grounds of Olumo Rock, while the traditional inter-compound dance “woro” which was hitherto held as part of the opening process will now take place at the Ake Palace grounds during the grand finale on Saturday, March 4.

He also announced that the visit to the Lisabi grove which usually holds on the Saturday of the week-long festival would now take place on Thursday to give ample time for the grand celebration which is planned for the finals on Saturday.

Oba Gbadebo named Chief Duro Odebunmi from the Gbagura section of Egbaland  as the Lisabi Hero for 2017 celebration, adding that a giant  statute of Lisabi would be erected in Abeokuta shortly.

He explained that the choice of the theme for this year’s Lisabi Festival, “Self reliance through agriculture for a secured future”, was deliberate because of the potential of agriculture to get Nigeria out of the economic recession. “We are just emphasizing what had been said many times before. We should be able to feed ourselves. We should examine why we prefer exotic rice to our own ofada rice. We are calling on our people to go back to the land by embracing agriculture. They should do poultry, fisheries, snaillery and so on as agriculture is our forte in Nigeria,” Oba Gbadebo concluded.

Also speaking at the press conference, Mr. Yomi Ogunbamowo, Globacom’s National Commercial Coordinator, extolled the essence of the festival, noting that the theme of the 2017 edition was of great interest to present day Nigeria. He restated the Oba’s views about agriculture being a veritable means of reviving the economy and boosting employment opportunities.

Mr. Ogunbamowo said Globacom was proud to be associated with Lisabi Festival and the whole Egbaland, and congratulated all Egba indigenes at home and abroad for the opportunity to be part of this year’s festival.