It was a fun-fair and excitement at Fajimi Yerombi street, Ita Agbaakin, Oranyan, in Ibadan, Oyo state capital as the popular Basorun Fajimi Yerombi family held family Day Annual Cultural Festival.
The 2023 Basorun Fajimi Yerombi family’s ‘Day Festival’, which has Olubadan of Ibadanland staff of office present, commenced on Wednesday 18th, and ended Friday, the 20th of October with a lot of activities including a quiz, and Ayo Olopon competition, among others.
Addressing journalists, Mogaji Oladiran Alabi, the family head of the Basorun Fajimi Yerombi family, said the family decided to start the annual celebration of their forefather’s heritage to uphold the legacy left behind, adding that the first annual festival is also packaged to attract the young generation in the within the family and surrounding communities during the celebration.
“My grand parent, Basorun Fajimi, is a direct descendant of Yerombi. He became the Mogaji of the family after the death of Yerombi. He became the King (Baale) of Ibadan in 1897, and in 1899 he was elevated further by Alaafin Adeyemi 1 to the position of Basorun, making him one of the only four Basoruns in Ibadanland.
“Basorun Fajimi was a very astute warrior and a very capable statesman. His reign in Ibadan brought a period of peace, development, and prosperity, including several motor roads, buoyant commerce, and the premier train line from Lagos to Ibadan that later impacted the commercial growth of the city until now.
“More so, historical fact states that my great grandfather, Basorun Fajimi’s Igbejo, is the first-story building in the entire Ibadan land and the first building to be constructed with corrugated iron sheet roofing.
“So, you can see that my family has a page in the history of Ibadan and it is for that reason I and other family members make it necessary to continue promoting and sustaining our family name,” Mogaji Alabi stated.
Dr. Faleye Joshua and Arinola Dairo emerged in first positions in senior and junior categories of the Ayo Olopon competition organized by the Basorun Fajimi Yerombi family, while Adewale Ogunpe and Ikimo Dairo came second respectively in the categories.
Artisans and youth also went home with motorcycles, sewing machines and generators.
While speaking on the items distributed, Mogaji Alabi said giving back to society is what he enjoys doing and he would continue to empower people at various levels to improve their capacity to become good leaders in the society.
“The empowerment programme has been on for many years and still counting. All I want is for our people to be self self-reliant to have the ability and capability to take care of their families. The best approach to wage war against idle hands is to empower youths.” Mogaji Alabi added.
He thereafter called on the beneficiaries to make use of what they have received so that at the end of the day it will be of benefit to them in particular and to the society in general.
One of the beneficiaries, Badmus Kabiru, who expressed his happiness promised to use the Motorcycle given to him judiciously for his Okada business.
Also, Kaodara Olatunji another beneficiary, was excited and noted that she would make use of the Sewing Machine given to her to start her own business.
At the Day festival, Mogaji Oladiran Alabi also distributed school chairs and tables to schools for pupils’ efficient learning.
Speaking, Mr. Adepoju Akintunde, Fajimi Yerombi’s family member said Mogaji Alabi is a good ambassador of the family.
He praised him for his continuous kind gesture to the family and the general public.
