It was funfair and excitement at
Fajimi Yero. bi street, Ita Agbaakin, Oranyan, in Ibadan, Oyo state capital as the popular Basorun Fajimi Yerombi family held the 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 which included quiz, and Ayo Olopon competitions 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 forefathers’ heritage to uphold the legacy left behind, adding that the first annual festival was also packaged to attract the young generation in the within the family and surrounding communities during the celebration.
“My grandfather, Basorun Fajimi, was 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 facts state that my great grandfather, Basorun Fajimi’s Igbejo is the first-storey building in the entire Ibadanland 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 made it necessary to continue promoting and sustaining our family name”, Mogaji Alabi stated.
Dr. Faleye Joshua and Arinola Dairo emerged 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 to Motorcycles, Sewing machines, and generators.
While speaking on items distributed, Mogaji Alabi said giving back to society was what he enjoys doing and he would continue to empower people at various levels to improve their capacity to become good leaders in a better society.
“The empowerment program has been on for many years and still counting. All I want is for our people to be 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 revealed.
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 society in general.
One of the beneficiaries, Badmus Kabiru, who expressed happiness, promised to use the motorcycle given judiciously for his okada business. Also, Kaosara Olatunji was excited and noted that she would make use of the sewing machine given to her to start her own business.
At the festival, Mogaji Oladiran Alabi also distributed school chairs and tables
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.
