Osun To Host 2013 Oodua World Children's Day

The Chairman of the Oodua World Children Day, Oguntola Toogun has revealed plans to stage the 2013 edition of the Oodua World Children’s Day in Osun state.
The Osun State Government has said it will celebrate all descendants of Oduduwa living within and outside Nigeria on May 27th 2013 at the 'Oodua World Children Day'.

Chairman of the proposed fiesta who is also the Assistant Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon. Oguntola Toogun disclosed this in Osogbo while speaking about the activities lined up for this year's Children Day celebration in the state.
Hon. Toogun said the invitation was extended to the traditional rulers and school children from at least nine Yoruba Speaking states in line with the regional integration agenda of the present administration in the state.

He said there are at least 30 traditional rulers based in Republic of Benin who are direct descendants of Okanbi including Alaketu of Ketu, Onisabe of Sabe, Onipopo of Popo, Olukoyi of Ajase-Ile as well as Afonja descendants in Ilorin and other Yoruba speaking places will grace the occasion.
He said that the school children from nine Yoruba speaking places such as Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti, Edo, Delta, Kwara and Kogi were also invited for the conference.

Adding that: "the state government would also showcase the calisthenics display which it re-invigorated last year in the state." While appealing to the people of the state to cooperate and show love to the visitors, Toogun said that the Alafin of Oyo and Ooni of Ife, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi and Oba Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse II have been of great assistance in linking the Yorubas in Republic of Benin and other places.

On the preparation for the visiting school children, Toogun said that all school pupils coming for the event from Lagos, Ogun and Oyo State would come by train, while others from Ondo, Ekiti, Edo, Delta, Kwara and Kogi will arrive in the state through several coaster buses assigned for the trip.

He assured that adequate security arrangement have been made with the assistance of the police and other security operatives in the state. 5,000 school pupils are expected to participate in the calisthenics display with preparations ongoing in this regard.