Oka Day 2025: Community marks festival with new projects, bursary awards

The 2025 edition of the annual Oka-Akoko Yam Festival took a remarkable turn as the community celebrated in grand style with the commissioning of new developmental projects and the presentation of educational bursaries.

The three-day celebration, which climaxed on Saturday, 02 August 2025, witnessed the inauguration of several community-driven projects including the installation of a 15KVA solar power system at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) annex in Iboje, and the commissioning of solar-powered boreholes at Iworin, Oka-Odo, and Ikese-Ayegunle quarters.

The Okarufe Cultural Foundation (OCF), the apex socio-cultural group in the community, spearheaded the initiatives. 

In addition to the infrastructure projects, the group distributed free 2000 notebooks to students, and organized medical outreach that catered to hundreds of residents.

At the grand finale of the event, the Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, lauded the community for promoting unity and peaceful coexistence.

Represented by the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Engr. Johnson Alabi, Aiyedatiwa said: “As a government, we recognize the critical role of cultural institutions and communal bonds in fostering social stability and development.

“We remain committed to working with all communities including the great people of Oka-Akoko to improve infrastructure, support education, create opportunities for youth, and ensure that every citizen of our state can thrive.

“Already, we have ongoing interventions across Akoko South West and the broader Akoko axis, in roads, rural electrification, healthcare, and school upgrades. I want to assure you that more will come. We are determined to leave behind a legacy of impact and inclusion.

“I also want to commend the Okarufe Development Associations and all the organizers of this year’s Oka Day for your dedication. This event reflects unity across all quarters of the community regardless of political or social affiliations. That is the spirit we need in Ondo State today — unity, purpose, and progress.

“Let me use this opportunity to call on our traditional institutions, youth organizations, and community leaders to continue to champion peace and development. Let us embrace dialogue over conflict, collaboration over competition, and unity over division.”

In his own address, the traditional ruler of the community, the Olubaka of Okaland, Oba (Dr.) Yusuf Adebori Adeleye, OON, commended the governor’s leadership and congratulated him on his victory in the last gubernatorial election.

Oba Adeleye said, “I wish to put on record the efforts of the various traditional age groups, whose contributions had gone a long way to reduce the activities of criminals and where arrests were made, handed over to the police for proper investigations.

“I sincerely appreciate the chiefs and community leaders, and enjoined them to continue to collaborate with the security agencies. Let me add that as patriotic citizens, the security of lives and properties are the responsibility of all of us. Therefore, if you see any strange movement, say something without delay.

“Without being immodest I wish to acknowledge the integrity of Oka sons and daughters in their various areas of endeavours as teachers, traders, artisans and all other noble professions we find ourselves. I am glad that those in diaspora did not engage themselves in inimical acts.

“Regarding our noble farmers, I particularly want to thank you for making Oka Akoko proud more than ever before for your wise investment decisions in girl child education that really showed in the percentage of beneficiaries in the Okarufe Leadership Association (OLA) bursary award.”

Also speaking, the Chairman of the occasion, Prince Olakunle Olugbenga, praised the monarch’s role in driving community development, noting that the festival has helped preserve the unique culture of Okaland.

The President of OCF, Akinrogun Alaba Yusuf, while outlining the group’s efforts, stated: “Today, OCF shall distribute 2000 FREE notebooks to 2000 students in all the public secondary schools in Oka. Principals and Parent-Teachers Association representatives are here @OKA DAY to collect this educational materials.

“We are also giving out cash prizes totalling N800,000 to eight academically gifted Oka children who scored 300 and above marks @JAMB2025.

“That aside, OCF supports the NIGHT WITH OUR KING dinner, holding tonight, with N500,000.

“We also provided the media coverage (radio. TV, press) for today’s Oka Day celebrations. OCF equally produced 1,500 customized FREE bottled water for attendees of this ancestral annual event.”

The Vice President of OCF, Mrs. Bolanle Olabinjo, encouraged residents to remain peaceful and to rally behind Oba Adeleye, describing the event as colorful and unique.

One of the bursary recipients, Master Gbore Feranmi, who scored 344 in the recent UTME, expressed his appreciation to OCF and encouraged other students to embrace a strong reading culture.