Dr. Adedeji Ashiru, Managing Director/CEO of the Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority (FRN) and a fellow of the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), is no stranger to the grandeur of Ojude Oba. Having witnessed over fifty editions and attended more than forty personally, he remains deeply connected to the cultural significance of the festival. Elegantly dressed in a richly embroidered Dansiki made from damask fabric, Dr. Ashiru described Ojude Oba as a festival where culture is not just displayed, but celebrated at its highest and most vibrant level.
“This is not an exaggeration,” he said. “Nowhere else in the world is culture expressed with such splendor, unity, and consistency. Ojude Oba stands out as a global cultural showcase.”
Reflecting on the future of the event, Dr. Ashiru voiced both admiration and concern. He noted the continuous growth in attendance, with people flying in from across the world, and expressed worry about the capacity of the current pavilion to handle the ever-increasing crowd.
“The pavilion is already too small,” he remarked. “Something must be done urgently. At this rate, I fear what the crowd size might look like in the next ten years. The event has outgrown the current space.”
He proposed that the festival be moved to a larger and more accommodating venue—possibly a stadium—stating that such a step is necessary to match the scale and momentum Ojude Oba has gathered over the years.
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