Tinubu, Uzodimma, others join Sanwo-Olu to celebrate 73rd Eyo Festival in Lagos
By Adeola Ogunrinde –
President Bola Tinubu, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, and other eminent personalities joined Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to celebrate the 73rd Eyo Festival in Lagos State. The Eyo Festival, popularly known as the Adamu Orisa Play, took place at Tafawa Balewa Square on Saturday, marking its return after eight years of public procession.
This year’s festival was staged in honour of four distinguished personalities: the first military administrator of Lagos State, Mobolaji Johnson; the first civilian governor of the state, Alhaji Lateef Jakande; former governor Michael Otedola; and the mother of President Tinubu, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji.
Dignitaries at the venue included Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat; Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Mudashiru Obasa; Minister of Investment and Industry, Jumoke Oduwole; and Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun.
Others in attendance were former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba; former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola; the Oba of Lagos, HRM Rilwan Akiolu; Kessington Adebutu (Baba Ijebu); Abimbola Jakande, wife of the late Alhaji Jakande; APC Women Leader, Jumoke Okoya-Thomas; and Iyaloja General, Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, among others.
The event featured a colourful procession of various Eyo groups, beginning with Elemoro, followed by Ajagun, Onitoolo, Adele Asese, Adimu Apena, Eletu Iwase, Arobadade, Oba Akintoye, Oloto, Saba, Akogun Olofin, Asajo, Kosoko Moronfolu, Opeluwa Onido, Ogunmade, Ojora Apasa, Oshodi Tapa, Olokun, Onikoyi and Eletu Omo.
The procession culminated with the most prominent Eyo groups, including Adimu, Okolaba, Oniko, Ologede and Agere, drawing admiration from spectators who thronged the historic square.
In his address, Governor Sanwo-Olu stated that the revival of the festival after eight years reaffirmed Lagos’ identity as a proud custodian of Nigeria’s living culture. He described the Eyo Festival as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience and an unbroken connection to history.
Sanwo-Olu added that the festival was more than pageantry, describing it as a living archive of Yoruba heritage that projects Lagos onto the global stage. He said progress is most meaningful when it is rooted in culture, memory and shared prosperity, in line with his administration’s THEMES Plus agenda.
