•Eyo, powerful affirmation of Lagos identity, resilience, unbroken connection to history, says Sanwo-Olu
President Bola Tinubu on Saturday attended the 2025 Adamu Orisha Play Eyo Festival, saying Lagos is accentuating the richness of Nigerian culture with the festival.
He stated that the festival, which was attended by the host Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; his Imo State counterpart, Senator Hope Uzodinma; Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat; Speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Mudashiru Obasa; Oba of Lagos, His Royal Majesty, Oba Riliwanu Akiolu; captains of industry, former and current public office holders, traditional and political leaders, as well as thousands of Nigerians from the diaspora and foreign visitors, is a reminder that culture and tradition hold great potential for tourism development.
The Eyo Festival remains one of Lagos’ most symbolic cultural events, reinforcing the city’s historical roots while projecting its traditions to a global audience. During the festival, different Eyo groups dressed in unique traditional colours, led by Adamu Orisha. The Eyo also had a colourful procession and offered prayers.
President Tinubu, in his special address for the 2025 Eyo Festival held at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos Island, said the iconic procession of white-robed Eyo masquerades sends a strong message about Lagos’ identity and cultural pride.
He said: “It is heartwarming to witness the Eyo 2025 Festival being held in honour of our late distinguished leaders – Brigadier-General Mobolaji Olufunsho Johnson (rtd), Alhaji Lateef KayodeJakande, and, Chief Michael AgboladeOtedola –, as well as my beloved mother, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, the Iyaloja General of Nigeria and a highly revered women’s leader.
“The Eyo Festival is a vibrant expression of the rich traditions of Lagos. It celebrates the achievements, outstanding contributions and exemplary lives of distinguishedNigerians – nott only eminent Lagosians.
“The festival is more than a celebration. It reflects the rich culture and belief of the people of Lagos and underscores the rich culture of our dear country, Nigeria.
“The timing of this festival is significant, coinciding with Detty December, a period when Lagos attracts thousands of Nigerians from the Diaspora and foreign visitors. It is a reminder that our culture and traditions hold great tourism potential. Indeed, our cultural assets can serve as valuable resources for destination promotion.
“The glamour of white-robed figures parading our streets in celebration of distinguished Lagosians sends a resounding message about our identity and our country.”
President Tinubu also appreciated Governor Sanwo-Olu, his deputy, Hamzat, and the State Executive Council on behalf of the Johnson, Jakande, and Otedola families for the remarkable honour. He said he is especially grateful for the honour bestowed upon his late mother, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji.
He also congratulated the people and government of Lagos State, as well as the traditional institutions in the state, especially the Oba of Lagos, HRM Oba Riliwanu Akiolu, on the success of the 2025 Eyo Festival.
Speaking earlier, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the Eyo Festival is a unique cultural symbol and a strong expression of Lagos’ identity, which reflects a powerful affirmation of Lagos’ identity, resilience, and unbroken connection to history.
He said: “The Eyo tradition, which escorts great contributors to the ancestral realm, is not bound by immediacy but by worthiness. Today, through this long-awaited rite, we affirm that their legacies endure and that their wisdom continues to guide our collective journey.
“Lagos, the heartbeat of Nigeria, draws its soul from moments such as this. The Eyo Festival is far more than pageantry; it is a living archive of our Yoruba heritage and a symbol of unity, purity, and communal strength. Across generations, it has marked transitions of kings, leaders, and epochs. Its return after eight years reasserts Lagos as the proud custodian of Nigeria’s living culture – a city where tradition is not abandoned but elevated.
“Beyond its cultural depth, the Eyo Festival projects Lagos onto the global stage. Today, our streets become a theatre of history, our talking drums a universal language, and our white-clad Eyos, ambassadors of identity. This festival strengthens tourism, stimulates economic activity, creates opportunities, and invites the world to experience the spirit of Eko.
“As we watch the Eyos glide with solemn grace, let this moment renew our commitment to preserving our heritage even as we advance boldly under our THEMES Plus agenda. For us, progress is most meaningful when it is rooted in memory, culture, and shared values.”
Governor Sanwo-Olu said this year’s Eyo Festival carries great significance because it collectively honours four eminent figures whose lives shaped the course of Lagos and Nigeria.
The Governor noted that “Mama Abibatu Mogaji, in particular, remains an enduring symbol of the strength and enterprise of Lagos women. As a market leader, activist, philanthropist, and political pathfinder, she embodied courage, discipline, and service. These are all the attributes and virtues that she passed on to our revered leader and father, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR. His activities as president so far. He has demonstrated compassion, courage, resilience, and passion for a great Nigeria.”
Governor Sanwo-Olu also congratulated the Oba of Lagos, His Royal Majesty Oba Rilwanu Akiolu; the White Cap Chiefs; the Akinsiku of Lagos (Olori Eyo); the Council of Adamuorisa; and the people of Lagos State for what he described as a historic cultural milestone.
He also congratulated the families of the honourees and urged their descendants to sustain the legacy of service and excellence associated with their names.
In his remarks for this year’s Eyo Festival, Dr Hamzat said the fun, pageantry and symmetry that characterised the Eyo Festival are the evident and immediate gains of staging the performance. “Eyo Festival is a beautiful blend of character and culture which defines the essence of Lagos,” he said.
In his royal remarks for the event, Oba Akiolu said the Eyo Festival is a meditation on leadership, legacy and communal responsibility, noting that it underscores the reciprocal bond between rulers and the ruled, reminding the community that honouring leadership is inseparable from preserving collective values.
