First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has congratulated the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona, chiefs, age groups, all indigenes, friends and well-wishers of Ijebuland on this year’s Ojude Oba festival held in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, on August 13.
The bank reiterated its commitment to support activities that promote and add value to Nigeria’s culture which is capable of boosting tourism, trade and the hospitality sector. The lender added that its participation will, as usual, be grand, exciting and rewarding for the thousands of people within and outside the country that would grace the fiesta.
In a goodwill message to the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Adetona, the founder of FCMB Group, who is also the Olori Omo-Oba Akile Ijebu, Otunba (Dr) Olasubomi Balogun, expressed his gratitude to the paramount ruler for his selflessness and exemplary leadership for 59 years he has been the paramount ruler of Ijebuland.
The message delivered on his behalf by the Group Head, Corporate Affairs of the bank, Mr. Diran Olojo, Otunba Balogun, said: “As your children and subjects, the period provides us the platform and opportunity to pay you homage in demonstration of our affection for a very special and exceptional father”.
He further said: ‘’Being the Olori Ebi (the head of the family) and as your Olori Omo-Oba (the head of princes and princesses), I will continue to lead the way in showing our appreciation to you. As you attend to people’s different requests, I wish to reiterate that the annual paying of homage should not be the only occasion we should show our appreciation. This is because you have consistently earned our affection and adulation, Kabiyesi’’.
In the same vein, the Group Chief Executive of FCMB Group Plc, Mr. Ladi Balogun, congratulated the monarch for upholding the values of Ijebuland and raising the status of the event over the years.
He said: ‘’The Ojude Oba festival is a rallying point to promote the sustainable growth and development of our community. We recognise that celebrating our heritage is an important part of our national identity, a means of educating visitors and future generations about our history and an opportunity to measure our growth, development and sustainability.
“For us at FCMB, the Ojude Oba festival is not just another event. It is a pride to us being a major platform through which we reaffirm our commitment to the community and promote our nation’s cultural diversity. We will continue to support all activities of the state with focus on the economic and social development. We are committed to the longevity of the Ojude Oba festival and are proud to be associated with its grandeur’’.
