The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has said that this year’s 13th edition of the Eledumare Festival is meant to appreciate what God has done in the lives of Nigerians as well as boost the country’s tourism through the various activities in the host communities.

The Yoruba generalissimo said this on Monday while flagging off the 21-day event that will run till Tuesday, April 22, 2025, with various programmes.Adams, who is the Chief Promoter of the Olokun Festival Foundation (OFF), said through cultural and traditional activities, God could also be appreciated, expressing the organisation’sresolve to “always make sure that it promotes the culture and tradition and even tourism in our community, the state and the country.”

“The festival is to appreciate what God has done in our lives and to even let people know that we can appreciate God through cultures and traditions and not only through religious programmes and activities. This festival will create commerce in the host communities and the state, and it also has tourism potential.

“We have been doing this programme for the past 13 years, and even during the time of COVID-19, we managed and made sure that Eledumare Festival was organised.”

“Olokun Festival Foundation (OFF) will always make sure that it promotes the cultures and traditions and even tourism in our community, the state and the country,” he stated.

The Yoruba generalissimo, while noting that OFF had been interested in promoting cultural festivals at the international level, said that the organisation would soon hold a festival in Brazil in May, to be followed by two others in Senegal and the Republic of Benin, respectively.

Adams listed other activities for the 2025 Eledumare Festival to include Children Day slated to hold in Epe, Ibeju-Lekki and Eredo Local Council in Lagos State, Football Competition in Agege, Beach Soccer in Badagry on Sunday April 13, 2025, Yoruba Quiz competition in Ogun East Senatorial District, Ijebu Axis (Ogun State) on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, with the grand finale on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.

Also speaking, Chairman of the Planning Committee, Prof. Kolawole Raheem, said with the level of planning of the festival, and also based on determination of the host communities that would organise each programme, it would be the most organised festival in the history of Eledumare Festival.