By Ayodele Abere
The Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe Aladesanmi III, on Sunday expressed gratitude to God and the people of Ado-Ekiti for the peaceful and successful conclusion of the 2026 Udiroko Festival.
Speaking at a thanksgiving service held at the Cathedral Church of Emmanuel, Ado-Ekiti, the monarch said the week-long cultural celebration was marked by peace from commencement to grand finale, attributing the success to divine grace and the commitment of Ado indigenes at home and in the diaspora.
Oba Adejugbe appreciated sons and daughters of Ado Kingdom for their love, support, and participation throughout the festival.
“First of all, I thank God for the successful ending of this year’s festival, 2026. I give glory to God for the peace throughout, from the beginning to the end of the festival,” the Ewi said.
“And I thank God for Ado-Ekiti sons and daughters for their love and support throughout the period. I pray that God will continue to bless them, replenish their purse, guard and protect them until we come this time next year, 2027, by the grace of God.”
The thanksgiving service was attended by members of the Ewi-in-Council, religious leaders, political stakeholders, and indigenes who joined the monarch to offer prayers for the kingdom.
In his sermon, the Dean of the Cathedral Church of Emmanuel, Venerable Dr. Simeon Olaoluwa Olajobi, urged Christians to cultivate a culture of thanksgiving in all circumstances.
He called on Nigerians, particularly political actors, to allow the fear of God to guide their conduct ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Venerable Olajobi condemned electoral malpractice, fraud, and excessive ambition, and charged politicians to prioritize national interest above personal gain and abide by the rules of engagement.
“The solution to Nigeria’s challenges will come from God and not from foreign countries. We have sufficient human and intellectual resources to overcome our difficulties. The help will come from above, not from abroad. We should look unto God,” he said.
The cleric also prayed for continued peace and prosperity in Ado-Ekiti Kingdom and urged citizens to remain supportive of the traditional institution and the Ewi.
The Chairman of the 2026 Udiroko Festival Planning Committee, Prof. Sunday Akindele, described this year’s celebration as exceptional and an improvement on previous editions.
He said the festival provided a global platform to project the history, values, and cultural heritage of the Ado Kingdom.
Akindele commended the media and other stakeholders for their role in the success of the event, noting that the 2026 edition had set a new standard for future celebrations.
He praised Oba Adejugbe for his visionary leadership, describing the monarch as “a divinely enthroned king whose influence has elevated the Udiroko Festival beyond the local sphere.”
He called for sustained support for the traditional institution and prayed for God’s protection upon the monarch, his chiefs, and the people of Ado-Ekiti.
The thanksgiving service formally marked the end of activities for the 2026 Udiroko Festival, one of the major annual cultural celebrations of the Ado-Ekiti Kingdom.
