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In commemoration of the 2022 Ife Day, the the Ife Development Board (IDB) has concluded plans for the public presentation of IfeVision 2050, the roadmap for the implementation of the Ife Development Agenda.
Addressing a press conference on Friday, November 4, at IDB Secretariat, Ile Ife, the chairman of Ife Day 2022, Dr Yomi Layinka, said the unveiling of the IfeVision 2050 is a critical phase of “our renewed efforts to harness the potential of our environment for communal progress.”
Layinka noted that this year’s Ife Day is a double bill event. Aside the unveiling of the IfeVision 2050, he said it also marks the seventh coronation anniversary of Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, as the 51st monarch of the town.
“Nigerian media has been a reliable and enthusiastic partner in the efforts to consolidate the heritage of culture and development that continues to define the uniqueness of Ile Ife as the Cradle of the Yoruba people in particular and of mankind in general.
“As inheritors of this proud heritage, we bear the historic responsibility of living up to its established accomplishments acknowledged by historians and archaeologists as a community that developed stone, iron, bronze, and brass technology in the early ages.
“A community with such eminent pedigree must continuously renew, re-plan, innovate and strategise how to maximise the current human and material resources to position the people for greater and peace.
“In this regard, we passionately salute the vibrant, visionary and brilliant leadership of His Imperial Majesty, Arole Oodua, Ooni Babatunde Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II. We thank our ancestors for blessing us with this Oonirisa. His youthful energy and enterprising initiatives have added value to the social and economic development of the cradle,” he said.
According to Layinka, other activities have been arranged to accentuate these objectives, adding that the seventh coronation anniversary will enable the people of Ife and their friends across the world to appreciate the agenda of peace and development enunciated by the Oonirisa on his ascension to the throne seven years ago.
“Despite unwarranted provocations from various quarters and agitation by many who still feel aggrieved over land matters, Kabiyesi Ogunwusi has walked his talk as the ambassador of peace by seeking cooperation and encouraging harmonisation, not only among people of Yoruba descent, but between peoples of various cultures and nationalities.We are happy that the Federal Government, in recognition of his herculean efforts, recently decorated him with the well deserved national honour of the Commander of Federal Republic, CFR. In his citation on that occasion, he was justifiably commended as a promoter of peace and unity,” he said.
He also explained that as a part of IfeVision 2050 agenda, the IDB in 2020, passed a resolution to hold a workshop to explore the strategy of IfeVision 2030.
Layinka stated that in October and November 2021, these series of workshops “enabled us to develop our 30-year Urban Renewal Development plan leveraging the four pillars of agriculture, mining, tourism and technology. For an example, there is an Agro-Allied Industrial Park being planned with national and multilateral development partners to be sited in Ifeland. This is to facilitate the processing of agricultural products into semi-finished and finished products. Such an intervention would offer practical solutions to some of the challenges facing our farmers like producing raw agricultural products which tend to attract low market prices and short shelf lives.”
“When fully completed, the industrial park which shall initially begin with about 10-15 acres shall have storage facilities, food processing factories, and offices for regulatory agencies. There is also a forestry products committee, chaired by the former director of forestry in Osun State, Dr. Fayenuwo also working to add the forestry value chain to the proposed park.”
In executing this vision and roadmap, the chairman said IDB would be partnering with domestic and international, private and public sector agencies involved in the Agricultural value chain.
“We are already in consultation with some of these agencies whose representatives are already on board and will be joining us at the vision unveiling ceremony on Friday 9th December, 2022.
“Other industrial estates dedicated to the mining, tourism, and technology sub-sectors shall be launched at future editions of Ife Day,” he added.
Layinka explained that following extensive consultations with varied stakeholders, the final programme of events for Ife Day 2022 is as follows:
FRIDAY, 9TH DECEMBER, 2022.
i. The Source Discuss (An inter-generational conversation on ‘Yoruba Culture as a Strategic Imperative for Development)
Venue: Ife Resorts, Ibadan Road, Ile-Ife.
Time: 11am
ii. The Ooni Ojaja Banquet. Featuring ’The Future Imagined: unveiling IfeVision2050, the Ife Development Agenda.’
Side event: Fashion Show by the Oodua Adire Textile Hub
Venue: Ojaja Arena, Ife Resorts, Ibadan Road, Ile-Ife
Time: 2.30pm
SATURDAY, 10TH DECEMBER, 2022. i. Youth Carnival and Float from Mayfair – Lagere – Aderemi – Aiyetoro – More – Fajuyi- ilare- Afewonro Park
Time: 8am – 10am
ii. ‘Ife Day 2022: The Gathering of the People.’
Activities include The Peoples’ Awards, A Concert of Starlets, and the Ife Day Carnival during which social clubs and dignitaries assemble in their gaily attires and canopies to watch performances including the procession of chiefs, clans, and ancestral compounds as well as clubs and associations who file past to pay homage to the Oonirisa.
Side event: mini-trade exhibition, indigenous food fair, and local musical performances.
Venue: Afewonro Park, Enuwa Square, Ile-Ife.
Time: 10am – 4pm
“Let me also alert the media that an awareness campaign, tagged ‘Proudly Ife’ was launched a few weeks ago. The campaign is to generate festive energy for this communal effervescence by ensuring that all indigenes and fraternal citizens take ownership and buy into the mobilisation of the people for self-development.This campaign started with pictures of personalities on A-boards across the city. The A-board is just one of the multi-dimensional possibilities of the virality of this thematic concept.To facilitate participation and provide regular updates, we have also launched the website for Ife Day. Please go to www.ifeday.com for information. The website is synchronized with various social media handles such as Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and Linkedln.
“To participate in the Proudly Ife campaign, simply go to the website, download the frame, insert your picture, forward a copy to us at our email address, and post it on your social media handles. You can also print on posters, T-shirts, and other merchandising products.
“Let me use this opportunity to notify tourists all over the world who wish to explore the historical and spiritual legacies of Ile-Ife, the Cradle, that this is the best time to visit and satisfy their curiosity. There are modest three and four-star hotels that cater to your hospitality and we have a good security network that will ensure your safety. It is an acknowledged fact that festivals constitute a sectoral industry in Ile Ife as no day passes without one festival or the other drawing participants from all over the world. If you are a tourist that requires the assistance of tour guides, please reach us through our website.
“Finally, we call on Ife sons and daughters, our corporate friends and associates, to join us to make this historic celebration of development a success,” the chairman said.