Egba, Yewa: Amosun, Alake Lead Team To Canada Convention

Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, will lead the delegation of other royal fathers, high chiefs and prominent personalities from Nigeria to the sixth biennial convention of Egba National Association USA and Canada (ENA) holding in Canada.

The event, which begins on Friday, September 2 and ends on Sunday, September 4, is being hosted by Olumo Progressive Association Canada Inc. (OPAC).

The convention will attract Egba and Yewa indigenes in USA, who will be coming from the 14 chapters of the association, which is holding the maiden convention in Toronto and Mississauga, Canada.

The host chapter, led by its President, Chief `Femi Shodunke, has made necessary arrangements to make the convention a colourful one, a press release by the association said.

According to the release jointly signed by the ENA Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Adesola Ayoola, and her OPAC counterpart, Mr. Abiodun Ajiroba, the association`s National Chairman, Alhaji Bolaseni Ameen, would lead the US delegation to Canada.

``Also expected to be in attendance are our highly respected Royal Grand Patron, His Royal Majesty, Oba Micheal Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, other high chiefs and important dignitaries from the Egba and Yewa axis of the state,`` the release explained.

It added: ``The three-day program includes symposium, family picnic, donations to charitable organizations and fund raising for our various projects here in North America and more importantly in Egba and Yewa in Ogun State, Nigeria. The theme of the conference is “Celebrating our Cultural Heritage.”

The release further stated that the newly elected officers of ENA, led by Rev. Sunday Gbajobi, would be sworn in on Sunday at the gala night holding at Capitol Banquet Centre, Mississauga, where Amosun is expected to preside as the Special Guest of Honour with Oba Gbadebo and other eminent personalities.

Earlier on Saturday, an award ceremony, which shall be preceded by a welcome ceremony, would hold where some dignitaries, who included the Secretary to the Ogun State Government, Barrister Taiwo Adeoluwa, the Seriki of Egbaland, Chief Tosin Fadare, Chief Lanre Shokunbi, and Sanjo Olurebi, will be given awards.

While speaking on the convention, Shodunke, who is the incoming ENA Public Relations Officer, said that the chapter was fully prepared to host other chapters coming from the US.

``No doubt, we are indeed fully prepared to host our dear brothers and sisters coming from other chapters in US, and especially the prominent guests from our home country in Nigeria,`` Shodunke stressed.

He added: ``Indeed, we are looking forward to a successful convention that would make ENA one of the leading associations in North America. ``

According to the OPAC President, Oba Gbadebo and his team of Egba high chiefs would be arriving Canada on Thursday for the event.

``We shall be receiving our royal father at the Toronto Airport on Thursday (tomorrow) afternoon with the traditional attires and indigenous drums,`` Shodunke, who is the Publisher of Canada based GatewayMail newspaper further said.

'Femi SHODUNKE (Chief),

• Journalist
• Ba'aroyin of Igbeinland; Ba'aroyin of Agbonland (Oluwo)
• Higher National Diploma (Mass Communication), Mapoly; Nigeria
• Master of Communication Arts (University of Ibadan) Nigeria
• Master of Arts (Media Production) Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• PRESIDENT, Olumo Progressive Association Canada Inc (A Nigerian ethnic group of Egba and Yewa indigenes in Canada)