1
The Chairman Organising Committee of the Ekiti Festival of Culture and Arts (EKIFEST), Professor Rasaki Ojo-Bakare, has hinted that the 2025 edition of the cultural event will feature 1000 – 1000-man parade across the state.
Briefing newsmen on the activities lined up for the event, Ojo-Bakare explained that the EKIFEST 2025 will hold between 21st and 25th October, 2025.
According to him, this year’s celebration, themed ‘Melodies of Ethical Leadership’, is conceptualised to celebrate the continuation of Governor Oyebanji’s administration in Ekiti.
He stated that the event will, among other things, showcase the good tidings of Governor Oyebanji’s giant strides through arts and culture.
The 1000-man parade across Ado-Ekiti on October 21 will feature a musical concert focusing on the rebirth of Ekiti traditional music on October 22 and a traditional wrestling competition among all the Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs)
He added that there on October 23, traditional cooking competition on October 24, and presentation of awards and prizes to best performing participants on October 25.
The Director expressed optimism that the cultural activity would boost the economic status of the state through the influx of visitors across every part of the Country.
He assured Ekiti residents of maximum security, stressing that a committee has been set up to liaise with all the security agencies in the state to ensure that law and orderliness thrive.
“Governor Biodun Oyebanji has approved that the Festival should be held between 21st and 25th of October, 2025. We conceptualize this year to be a continuation of Oyebanji’s third anniversary in office.
“We normally hold on in August, but we deliberately delay it to celebrate the third anniversary of the Governor. The theme is ‘Melodies of Ethical Leadership’, and we have seen it in the state since he came into office. We are using the culture to let the good tidings continue.
“This year’s festival will host contemporary free-style carnival, the type that has never been seen in this part of the country. We will have a 1000-man carnival parade on the streets of Ado-Ekiti. This will herald the commencement of the carnival on the 21st.
On the 22nd, there will be a musical concert focusing on the rebirth of Ekiti traditional music. We have not been having those kinds of deep indigenous musics; we are using the platform of the carnival to rekindle the interest of the youths in Ekiti traditional music.
“On the 23rd, there will be a traditional wrestling competition among all the LGAs and LCDAS. It’s one of the celebrated events at the national festival; the young people who will be selected for the National Wrestling Festival coming up in Enugu will be chosen among the participants.
On the 24th, a traditional cooking competition will be put in place, which will mainstream the festival to the economic development of the state. It’s part of selling our own to the visitors who will visit our state.
“On the 25th, there will be a closing ceremony and announcements of prizes, awards to those who have done well in the various competitions.
“Security is a very important aspect of the festival packaging. We are dealing with the public; we don’t want anything to happen to our visitors, either. We have made a serious plan for security. There’s a security committee working with security personnel in the state to ensure there is no security breach.
“It’s automatic that human traffic will increase, the economy will boost because those who are coming will spend money. It’s going to boost our economy and bolster the IGR of the state. They will spend, they are in a festival mood, they will engage in all sorts of activities that will make them spend money. When you get your people entertained, they see the reason they should be alive”.
