Ahead of the Ogidi Day Festival holding in Ogidi, Kogi State on Saturday, June 18, 2022, the Father of the Day for the event, Mr. Matthew Adekunle Medupin is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that his participation at the event delivers maximum impact on the community and it’s people.
As a mark of his commitment to the success of the event, he had earlier donated a whopping sum of N1 million into the Ogidi Fund.
In preparation for the Day, a special aso ebi to which no fewer than 120 persons have subscribed is being circulated and which will be worn by the friends, family and associates of Mr. Medupin at the Ogidi Day arena and at the reception being hosted by him later in the evening of Saturday, June 18.
Sources from his London base said to kick start his role in the programme, a tour of Ule Elega, his father’s iconic one storey building will be held for family and interested members of the family at Idawero, Ogidi on Friday, June 17 at 8am.
During the tour, Mr. Medupin will conduct visitors round the 14 rooms in the house with a story of who lived where and who among today’s greats was born in which room.
A photo exhibition of the personalities who dwelt in the house will also be staged.
Among those who once lived there were the late Pa Cyril Ehindero who went on to build his own storey building in Ewode, Ogidi.
Also there was Alfa (later Alhaji) Yusuf Aiyenoloun, father of Mrs. Fatima Raji; the late Pa Leo Owonubi; the late Pa Komolafe Aduloju, father of Mr. Daniel Komolafe; the late Pa Augustine Medupin; the late Mr. Sylvester Olusaye and many others.
Ule Elega was the first storey building in Ilare, Ogidi and used to be the venue of the annual general meetings of the defunct Ogidi Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Society.
Later in the evening of the same day, there will be a gathering of all Idawero family members for reminiscences, songs, dance and drama.
The women of the family, comprising the daughters of the family and the wives (Iyawo ‘Le) will take the lead at the programme.
At 6.45am on the D-Day, Mr. Medupin along with members of his nuclear and extended families with associates and well wishers will be at the St Thomas Catholic Church, Ogidi for a special mass at which the Ogidi Day programme will be committed to God for a successful outing.
At 8am, the entire Idawero Family will assemble at the frontage of the celebrant’s Adeunoni House residence for a solemn assembly of prayers and invocation.
At 9am, the entire clan will follow Mr. Medupin in a procession of music and dance to the palace of the Ologidi of Ogidi, Oba Rabiu Oladimeji Sule to pay homage to the monarch.
They will from there, proceed to the Ogidi Day arena.
According to the programme, activities will shift to the Ayin Orunro residence of Chief Abiodun Ehindero, where an elaborate reception would be held for the celebrant, his family, friends and well wishers.
The programme will be rounded off at 10am on Sunday, August 19, with a thanksgiving service at the St Thomas Catholic Church, Ogidi.
Mr. Medupin will be the fourth Ogidi Day Father of the Day since Oliha Abiodun Ehindero first took charge at the 2018 festival.
Others who have played the same role after him are the Elepo of Ogidi, Chief Ambrose Adewale (Okelare) and Prince Olu Balogun (Itaji).
Source: Facebook post by Tunde Ipinmisho
