Visitors to the city of Imeko this week will experience a palpable atmosphere of intense excitement and pageantry as residents of the city enter the festive mood of Agbinrekoti Fesival-Imeko Day 2023 which began last Monday, 17th September, 2023 with
Press Conference held at Onimeko Conference Centre.
The festive ambience now beclouding Imeko is highly punctuated by the influx of travelers into the city, majority of who are indigenes eager to ensure they are not left out in the scheme of things and are ready to do all in their power to contribute their quota to the success of the festival.
Other influx into the city include tourists, friends, well-wishers and contractors employed to handle one assignment or the other for the festival and fun seekers.
Many respondents to the enquiry of what is special about the festival revealed that this edition is so symbolic in the history of the town as it marks one – hundred and thirty years of re-inhabitation after a decade of destruction of the town by Dahomeyan war in 1882.
Others reacted as saying it is because it coincides with the 9th coronation anniversary of the incumbent Onimeko Oba Benjamin Alabi Olanite, the Egi-Ogboye, Akanku IV.
Yet, another set of people with similar reasons are insisting that this edition is special because it is the first since ascension to the throne of the city’s highly revered monarch.
Meanwhile, according to a release made available to newsmen and signed by the duo of Chief Adebayo Bankole and Comr. Olutunde Aninkan , the Planning Committee chairman and secretary respectively; this year edition is focused on strengthening the love and unity among the people and supporting the revitalization initiatives of the highly dynamic Onimeko.
The statement reads in part: “It is aimed at lubricating the hinges of love and unity among us as a people, promotion of the right values especially among the younger generation, projection of our great historical and cultural heritage and ultimately, the development of our land”.
In his own reaction, the Organizing Secretary of the Festival Planning Committee, Alhaji Chief Ganiyu Akinleye gave the schedule of activities of the programme thus:
17th September, 2023
Press Conference @ Onimeko Conference Centre.
18th September, 2023
i. Environmental Sanitation- 7:00 a.m.- 10:00 a.m.
ii. Courtesy visit to Mount of Salvation Cathedral 10:00 a.m.- 10:30 a.m.
iii. Visitation to His Eminence Rev. EMF Oshoffa for spiritual blessings for the commencement of the festival 4:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
iv. Semi-final Football Match
19th September,2023.
Game: Boxing @ Onimeko Conference Centre.
20th Sept 2023.
i. Free Medical Service 9:00am-12:00pm@ Onimeko Conference Centre.
ii. Final Football Match@A.U.D Primary School, Imeko -3:00pm 21st September, 2023.
i. Public Lecture @Onimeko Conference Centre -9:00a.m -12:00pm
ii. Royal Procession to Osuru Spring Waterfalls @ Ahoro-Ile 12:00 -1:00pm
iii. Cultural Activities 12:00 p.m
iv. Ayo @Onimeko Conference Centre – 2:00 pm
v. Okute Dance in the night.
22nd September,2023.
i. Jumat Service 2:00pm@ Central Mosque, Imeko.
ii. Eko Night &Civic Recognition & Award presentation@ Onimeko Conference Centre 4:00- 6:00pm
iii. Beauty Pageantry @ Onimeko Conference Center 6pm- 8p.m
iv. Artistes Night @ Onimeko Conference Center 8pm- 11pm
23rd September,2023
Grand finale &Formal Launching of #250m Ultra Modern Onimeko Palace 10:00am @A.U.D Primary School, Imeko.
24th September, 2023
Thanksgiving Service @ Methodist Church Cathedral, Oja-Kekere, Imeko.
