Adewale Adetoyese   Members of the St. John's Grammar School's Old Boys Association, on Monday kicked of activities marking the 60th anniversary of their Alma Mata with sanitation. The Publicity Secretary of the Association, Hon. Kehinde Bamigbetan who led current students of the school to the ancient Ile Oodua Palace of the Ooni of Ife and the popular Ajifowobaje Obaloran market, for cleaning, explained that the activity is in line with Yoruba's culture of environmental sanitation ahead of all engagements. Receiving the celebrants on behalf of the Ooni of Ife, the Owajesi of Ife, High-Chief Idowu Awotifaju, noted that St. John's Grammar school is an historic citadel of learning in the Kingdom of Ife. Similarly, the Otun Iyaloja of Ajifowobaje Obaloran market, Mrs. Moriatu Rasheed, who prayed for the team fervently, thanked the Old Boys Association for providing needed mentorship for the younger ones. Addressing newsmen after the exercise, Principal of the school, Dr. O

By Lateef Adewole Let me use this auspicious occasion to congratulate all of us, who happened to pass through this great citadel of learning, The St. John's Grammar School, Oke-Atan, Ile-Ife, Osun State, on the Diamond Jubilee Anniversary of the school, which we are celebrating from Monday 17th to Sunday 23rd of January, 2022. May we live long to witness many more of such celebrations. St. John's, for short, an all-male secondary school, located within the ancient city of Ile-Ife, was established in January 19th, 1962 by a Catholic Missionary from Quebec, Canada, Reverend Father Fabian Cloutier. He not only taught in the school, he was the pioneer principal of the school. Ever since established, this great institution has produced numerous great people, who have gone ahead to break all boundaries and attain immense successes in their chosen fields and careers. It will be an inexhaustible exercise trying to name them in this short piece. Many "great Johnians", as we, t

Instagram.com/officialcooldjlexy_tb Few weeks after a shutdown December 25th Santa Cruise 2.0 show, Popular Ife based Nigerian DJ, Adewale Erinfolami, professionally known as Cool DJ Lexy Tb has expressed his special regards for Ife City entertainment and those that pull it up. The CEO, Cool Beatz Entertainment in a recent post on his instagram page said, "I've got #ileife entertainment in my head for life. MY people I hail o. Forever The Man". Held at the spacious Royal Divas Lounge, Ife, Santa Cruise 2.0 was the second edition of the annual Christmas entertainment fiesta featuring the host, Cool DJ Lexy Tb himself and fellow entertainers, notably DJ Simple, DJ Puffy T, DJ Glitz, DJ Teekulz, DJ Smile, DJ Pablo, Hypeman Muller, Hypeman Rev Fadeer, Hypeman Shoki, Ab Blac, Yinka Salau (Royal MC) among others. The event witnessed massive turn up from city cruise lovers, entertainment enthusiasts and business executives with the guest artist, the "Dabubule" crooner,

Late Olu of Ayepe-Olode, His Royal Highness Oba David Olajide Omisore, Omigbade I (1931-2022) The honorable member representing Ife Federal Constituency In the House of Representatives, Hon. Taofeek Abimbola Ajilesoro has commisserated with Senator Iyiola Omisore over the death of his father, Late Oba David Olajide Omisore Omigbade I, the Olu of Ayepe-Olode Awolowo town in Ife South Local Government Area of Osun State.  Late Oba Olajide Omisore, father to the former Osun State Deputy Governor and two-term senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Iyiola Omisore, died in the early hours of Tuesday, January 4, 2022 at the age of 90. In a condolence message personally signed by him as obtained by IFECITYBLOG on Wednesday, Hon. Ajilesoro described the late monarch as a "remarkable Royal Father" whose sense of humour will for long be missed. "I write on behalf of my family and the good citizens of Ife Federal Constituency to express our deep condolences to your Exce

A convoy of some principal officers of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife including the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede was on Monday attacked by suspected hoodlums in the host community. The incident, IFECITYBLOG learned, occurred at Ede Road, a residential area around the University campus. While the real cause of the attack remains sketchy as of press time, sources however claimed the University officials had attempted to visit a disputed portion of the institution's land at parakin area of the city when they were confronted by the irate youths who were said to be armed with dangerous weapons, preventing the VC and his entourage from gaining access to the site. Reacting to the incident, the Vice Chancellor, Ogunbodede condemned the attack, saying the University and the Ife community have always been relating peacefully and will continue to uphold the peaceful coexistence as, according to him, the University cannot exist without the community. “W

The Arole Oduduwa & Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, has declared that descendants of Oduduwa must unite across the world regardless of religious and political differences. Ooni Ogunwusi made the declaration at his Ile Oodua palace on Tuesday, during the commemoration of his sixth coronation anniversary, describing the Yorubas as natural leaders who are being watched by other nationalities for direction at all times. "Our unity is nonnegotiable and this is the best time that such irreplaceable virtue is needed the most. We must speak with one voice at all times as we prevent politics, religion or other biases from setting us apart. "In whatever we do, we must be conscious of the fact that we are being watched by others and we cannot afford to let the world down, especially those looking up to us for leadership." Ooni Ogunwusi said. Addressing the happy crowd on the journey so far, Ooni Ogunwusi described the six years of his reign as the go

Abiodun Williams, Counsel to Chief Ramon Adedoyin, the embattled owner of Hilton Hotels Honours, Ile-Ife where a lodger, Timothy Adegoke Oludare allegedly died has raised fresh alarm on the circumstances surrounding the Late OAU postgraduate student's death. In a letter to Osun state Commissioner of Police dated 26th November, 2021, as obtained by The PUNCH on Saturday, the lawyer posited that going by the information at his disposal, the late Adegoke was buried by officials of the Department of Public Health, Ife Central Local Government, Ile-Ife after having secured a clearance from the police in one of the local Divisions. This is in contrast to the previous report that the corpse of the 37-year-old OAU master's student was allegedly buried by the Hotel staffers after having been reportedly found dead in the room where he was lodging. “From the information flying around in Ile-Ife, there is a strong suggestion that contrary to the claim as aforesaid, it was the o

The Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, was on Sunday honoured with a Degree of Doctor of Letters, Honoris Causa, by the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD). The honour was part of the programmes lined up in commemoration of the institution's 12 years of establishment and 9th Convocation Ceremony. According to the institution, Ooni Ogunwusi who is the Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, was so considered because of his immeasurable contribution to the development of education in Nigeria, particularly through ABUAD. In his acceptance speech, the Ooni lauded the University, especially it's proprietor, Aare Afe Babalola who is a legal luminary, calling for the institutionalization of the founder's lofty dreams and ideologies towards the advancement of education in Nigeria and Africa. "We can have like an institute for the Afe Babalola Theories, for our children and the generation yet u

The Nigerian National Commission for Museums and Monuments has recovered three of the stolen Nigerian artworks from the Metropolitan Museum of Art(MET) in New York. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the artworks which included, two 16th-century brass plaques, depicting a Warrior Chief and and a Junior Court Official belonging to the Benin as well as one 14th-century Ife head were received by the Director-General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments(NCMM), Prof. Abba Tijjani in company of the Consul-General of Nigeria in New York, Amb. Lot Egopija. According to NAN, the MET currently houses about 160 works of arts from Nigeria, which were mostly donated by individuals said to have acquired them from the art market. Tijjani in the report commended the museum for returning the artefacts to Nigeria while urging other museums in possession of Nigerian artefacts to follow suit. The meeting also featured the NCMM signing a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) with the MET

A group under the aegis of Ife Legacy Foundation has insisted that the City of Ife remains a safe place for all people to live and do business. This reaction came in the midst of the news of an alleged murder of one Mr Timothy Adegoke Oludare, a master's student of Obafemi Awolowo University , a government owned University in the ancient city. The group in a communique on Tuesday with the title "A COMMUNIQUE ON BEHALF OF IFE COMMUNITY ON THE TRAGIC DEATH OF MR TIMOTHY ADEGOKE OLUDARE", signed by its Publicity Secretary, Niyi Murele commiserated with the family and friends of Late Adegoke, adding that it would contribute everything possible within its capacity to support investigation efforts of the law enforcement agents to unravel the cause of Oludare's death and due prosecution of anybody found culpable. The group however appealed to the public to treat the matter as an isolated case without attempting to add any general colorization to the situation in re

A prince of the Source and hier to the throne of Oduduwa, Prince Tadenikawo Adesoji Aderemi today turns a year old. The father, Arole Oduduwa and Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II earlier today announced the Prince birthday via his verified Facebook page @ooniadimulaife. Ooni in the post described the Prince birth as "An answer to many prayers" and prayed for him to live long to fulfil destiny.  "Prince Tadenikawo is One today!!! An answer to many prayers, you came right at the appointed time. To the glory of the Almighty, the King of Kings, you will surely live to fulfil your destiny in this world! Amin! Ase !!! Lots of Love from - Ooni Ojaja II and Olori Silekunola", the post read. Ooni had on Wednesday November 25th 2020 named Prince Tadenikawo after the 49th Ooni of Ife in the third dynasty, Late Ooni Tadenikawo Adesoji Aderemi, First African Governor of the Old Western Region.

The Arole Oduduwa and Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, has decried the abandonment of roads in the ancient city by the Federal and state governments, making transportation of persons and goods a herculean exercise within the Ile-Ife metropolis. Ooni Ogunwusi made this known on Sunday during the commissioning of a 700 metres road at the popular Odo-Ogbe market (Oja Tuntun), Ile-Ife, facilitated by the Ife-born Senior Special Assistant to the President on Legislative matters, (Senate), Senator Babajide Omoworare. "I really do not know our offence in Ife to deserve the poor road network that surround us. It is not enough to call Ife the source, this city deserves to be treated as the true source of humanity that it is. "It is so bad that the same government that has refused to fix our roads is the one denying us access to do what we can do ourselves. All we hear is that" it is a government road" so we have to keep waiting. "We are aware t

The Arole Oduduwa and Ooni of Ife His Imperial Majesty Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II has said that all men are created in the image of Eledumare(God), the supreme being. Ooni Stated this in on Monday in a caption to a video shared via his official Instagram handle @ooniadimulaife showing him and Students from the Bethesda School for the Blind, Suru Lere, Lagos who had come to pay him a courtesy visit at his place on the occasion of his birthday anniversary recently celebrated. The Ooni while expressing his joy and appreciation over their visit described the children as special creatures with astonishing endowments, adding that they indeed occupy an important position in his life worth. "All human beings are made in the image of Eledumare with special endowments to impact our world. It’s always incredibly inspiring to me anytime I specially host my children from @bethesda_school. They occupy one of the highest and noble places in my life as they are inseparable fro

Several natives and residents of Ile-Ife especially people suffering from Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) related diseases, were on Friday given free healthcare services, sponsored by Hopes Alive Initiative (HAI), in celebration of the birthday anniversary of the Arole Oduduwa & Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II. The initiative which held at the prominent Oba Okunade Sijuwade Memorial Hall, Enuwa, Ile-Ife, was sponsored by HAI, under the leadership of Princess Temitope Adesegun, to assist the poor and other vulnerable persons. The exercise which includes quality medical advice on the prevention, maintenance and complete cure of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), played host to many beneficiaries with special preference for the elderly and women. Aside from the free medical checkup and advice, free drugs and other medications as recommended by doctors on ground were equally administered to the participants who trooped in from all walks of life. Beneficiaries who took tur

Governor of the state of Osun, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, his Ondo State counterpart, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN and other stakeholders on Thursday, advocated that constitutional roles should be assigned to traditional rulers to give legal backings to their responsibilities especially in the security of their domains. The governors were among notable stakeholders who partook in the fourth edition of the Ooni Ogunwusi annual international leadership symposium 2021, in commemoration of the birthday anniversary of the Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II. The event which has the theme: "Addressing Security Challenges As They Affect Grassroots Development In Nigeria: Need for Constitutional Empowerment of Traditional Institution", held at the prominent Oba Okunade Sijuwade Memorial Hall, Enuwa, Ile-Ife. Represented by the Commissioner for Education, Hon. Folorunso Oladoyin, Governor Oyetola, who expressed huge concern about the current challenges confrontin

Hundreds of natives and residents of Ile-Ife especially the aged members in the ancient city on Wednesday benefited from the free healthcare services, sponsored by the Iyalaje Oodua, Princess (Dr.) Toyin Kolade, in celebration of the birthday anniversary of the Arole Oduduwa & Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II. The initiative which held at the prominent Oba Okunade Sijuwade Memorial Hall, Enuwa, Ile-Ife, was put together by the Iyalaje Oodua to assist the poor and other vulnerable persons particularly those suffering from High Blood Pressure and Diabetes. Iyalaje Oodua, Represented by a public health expert, Dr Juliana Harriman praised beneficiaries of the free healthcare for coming out in their numbers to be educated and given treatment on various health challenges they facing them. She assured them that Iyalaje Oodua would continue with the exercise even beyond the Ooni's birthday.  "Yes, you have turned out in numbers and this has indeed impressed my Pr

Kayode Olawuni The Raia Rooks Chess Club(RRCC) has released timeline for the 2021 edition of its annual Olojo Festival Rapid Chess Tournament. In a release signed by the Founder and CEO of the prestigious sports society, Hon. Adebisi Awope and obtained by Ife City Blog on Saturday, this Year's tournament, the third of its kind will hold between Wednesday the 15th and Thursday the 16th of September, 2021 at the Ife Grand Resorts and Industrial Park, Ife/Ibadan Road, Ile-Ife, Osun State. According the statement, the season 3 edition of the tournament, with the theme, "Give Kids The World: Teach Them How To Play Chess And You Have Given Them The Ability To Make Important Life Decisions" is projected to be held in a more grand style just as it has secured the official approval and incorporation into the Pre-Olojo Festival Programmes by His Imperial Majesty, the Arole Oduduwa, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife. The statement further added that