We are In The Forefront Ensuring The Successful Hosting Of Ovia-Osese Annual 2025 Festival – Dr. Rev. Aiso
By Abubakar Suleman
The new President of Ogori Descendants Union, ODU, Dr. Reverend Gabriel Aiso has said this year 2025 Ovia-Osese festival would witnessed monumental transformation, assumed international recognition, and also attracts eminent personalities.
The president who paid visit to the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Kogi state Printing and publishing corporation, Graphics Newspaper, Mr. YJ Itopa, on Saturday in Lokoja, stated that Ogori Descendants Union (ODU) has been in the forefront of ensuring the successful hosting of this annual 2025 festival.
Dr. Gabriel noted that the event will kickstart on 29th of March, the grand finale of the 2025 edition of the event will take place on May 2nd with a spectacular display of the rich culture of the people and end on May 3rd.
According to him, “Apart from priding itself as the ‘home of elites where we have several proffessors’, Ogori is also the home of culture, It is a community whose rich culture was recognised by UNESCO and placed on the world map
He said Ogori community usually hosts the Ovia Osese cultural festival annually, which involves initiation rites that prepare young maidens for the journey into womanhood. They are trained on how to take good care of their homes and sustain their future husbands.
“We also have some historical sites that were not known to the public, I promised that we shall unveil them after this years event, places like were the Nupes and Ogori people fought and the leader of Nupe warriors, Jamgbadi was conquered.
“Ovia-Osese will also introduce the tourists sites were people can come to Ogori to see some of those important places”.
“So, Ovia-Osese is a ceremony that openly extols the virtues of womanhood, while celebrating the purity, chastity and untouched physical and emotional conditions of young girls of marriageable age”,
“It is usually a week-long event, with lots of other activities, such as sporting competition, cooking competition, beauty pageant and the likes, which keep the entire community in a festive mood”,
Dr. Reverend Aison further stated that the festival was as old as ogori creation and has remained in its original form. The message is still as relevant as it was several decades ago. ‘it is one festival that makes us forget our differences if at all there is any’.
“This is one of the few festivals around the world that has remained in its original form and with its message still relevant in our contemporary world. We therefore called on the state Government ably led by the Executive Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo to give us support, “Permit me to use this opportunity to plead that kogi state government should support us in the annual hosting of this tourists event”.
He revealed that the ministers of Culture and tourism, Humanitarian and Youths would be present at the event.
“Also, events such as this should not lack corporate sponsorship. It is my hope that by next year we would involve notable corporate organisations, promising that this year, the package will.be ‘breath-taking,’ and assured that next edition would be better.
He therefore called on the media to give much publicity to the coming Ovia-Osese festival and also ensure they visit to witness the colourful events.
While recieving the President of ODU to his office, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Graphics newspaper, Mr. YJ Itopa Congratulates the newly elected president of Ogori Descendants Union, ODU, saying that It’s very important to talk much about our cultural heritage, noting that the president is taking the right steps at the right time to create awareness.
He reminded the president that the organisation, The Graphic newspaper has been friendly with ogori Descendants Union and its people, promising to continue to maintain the cordial relationship.
“We promised to use Graphics newspaper maximally to publicised the coming event” he promised.
Mr. Itopa however seek to visit all the historical sites in Ogori after the events and ensure the media organisation promote it to the whole world to know about the spectacular historical relics in the local government area.
