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

New Yam is such a colourful annual festive occasion celebrated in several part of the country Nigeria and beyond annually and of which the ancient city of Ile-Ife, South-West Nigeria is not an exception as it is one of the prominent traditional festivals hosted in the acclaimed source of mankind annually. As the 2021 edition of the New Yam Festival holds in the city, the Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife has described the festival as an occasion for celebrating abundance and sustainability. Ooni Ogunwusi who doubles as the Co-Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN) further maintained that the food items were first discovered by the 401 premodial deities in the  historical city before being taken over by humanity. The foremost traditional ruler and keeper of the widely acknowledged source of mankind however used the occasion to offer prayers for abundant blessings, peace and prosperity in the l

An America-based Ile-Ife indigene who is also an oil and gas tycoon, Mr Olubunmi Otun, in his philanthropic gestures recently facilitated the provision of potable water to the users of Apollo Market Stadium Area, Ile-Ife and the inhabitants of the market environment. The project, a borehole fitted with mechanical pump was commissioned on Thursday 29th July, 2021 by the Executive Chairman of Ife Central West LCDA, Honourable (Bar.) Bisi Oladosu in the presence of the Council members, staffs, market users, residents, representatives of the donor and politicians. In his remarks, Honourable Oladosu lauds the donor for the essential project of a very huge costs to his purse and of vast importance to both the market users, residents and the general public. He saluted him for giving back to his people back home while he encourages others who are well-to-do to emulate him as a matter of obligation and he prays that may Almighty God rewards him in all ramifications and in several folds.

Moses Olafare The newly installed Iyalaje of Oduduwa Race worldwide(Iyalaje Oodua) Princess (Dr.) Toyin Kolade, on Saturday stated that she is not unaware of the huge responsibilities and roles attached to her latest status, promising to perform optimally towards wealth recreation as well as human development. The Ilesa born business tycoon cum philanthropist who has been the global promoter of the popular Annual Aje Festival for about half a decade, gave the assurance at the ancient Ile Oodua Palace of The Ooni of Ife in Ile-Ife  before the Arole Oduduwa & Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, and a host of other top dignitaries including traditional rulers across Nigeria who took turns to pray for her traditionally. "Through my close relationship with the Arole Oduduwa which I hold in a very high esteem, I have always been close to the traditional institution and I am glad to state that I have learnt a lot enough to last me a lifetime. "Let me be specific

Kayode Olawuni The City of Ife was on Saturday agog in celebrations with the installation ceremony of Princess (Dr) Toyin Kolade as the Iyalaje of the Oodua Race by His Imperial Majesty, the Arole Oduduwa Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife. Aje by the Yoruba pantheon is the goddess of wealth, market profitability and economic prosperity and by her installation therefore as the Iyalaje Oodua, Princess (Dr.) Toyin Kolade becomes the custodian of all economic and commercial activities for the entire Oodua race, particularly as it relates to coordinating the affairs of mankind vis a vis the spirit of Aje. Until her new honour, Princess Toyin Kolade holds the title of the Iyalaje of Apapa, Lagos State and She is the Global Coordinator of the Annual AJE Festival held in the ancient City of Ife, the cradle of the Yoruba race. The three days ceremony which began on Thursday the 15th of July withnessed a series of activities featuring the performance of important

Moses Olafare The Arole Oduduwa & Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, on Friday pledged that the multimillion naira worth Ife Grand Resort and Industrial Park, was established for youth development and capacity building. Ooni Ogunwusi who made the position known at the official opening of the facility along Ife/Ibadan expressway, Ile-Ife, explained that direct employment has been created for over one hundred youths while indirect employment opportunities have equally been created for over five hundred others. In his address through a former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, Ooni Ogunwusi urged stakeholders especially those in leadership capacities to create platforms capable of engaging the youths productively, to discourage them from involving in criminal acts. "Our father the Ooni is sending a strong message through Ife Grand Resort and Industrial Park to all of us here that we should engage our youths and offer them dependable mentorship. This is

Eminent Nigerians including Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State and former governor of Ogun state, Senator Ibikunle Amosu have sent felicitations to the business mogul, Princess (Dr.) Toyin Kolade, ahead of her installation as the Iyalaje of Oduduwa Race worldwide(Iyalaje Oodua) by the Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife.  In a statement on Wednesday by his Director of Media & Public Affairs, Comrade Moses Olafare who doubles as Secretary of the Installation Planning Committee, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi had earlier 3 months ago announced the selection of Princess Kolade as the Iyalaje Oodua who will be officially installed on Saturday July 17th, 2021 at the Ile Oodua Palace of The Ooni of Ife in Ile-Ife.  In their separate congratulatory letters, the personalities who described Princess Kolade's appointment as the insertion of the right peg in the right hole, lauded the Ooni over such excellent appointment. Felicitating with th

The Arole Oduduwa Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, has felicitated with the prominent business mogul, Princess (Dr.) Toyin Kolade, on the occasion of her birthday anniversary. Ooni Ogunwusi who sent his heartfelt greetings on Tuesday through a statement by his Director of Media and Public Affairs, Comrade Moses Olafare, described Princess Kolade as an icon of a perfect African woman and motherhood. The natural traditional head of Oduduwa Race worldwide who is scheduled to install Princess Toyin as the Iyalaje Oodua, explained that the Ijesa-born woman has countless enviable human qualities that should be emulated by all. "Princess Kolade is a cool-headed cultured descendant of Oduduwa  who established herself from the ordinary status of a petty trader on the streets of Ilesa to a celebrated international entrepreneur today. "Among other virtues, Princess Kolade's nature of assisting the poor, disabled and other vulnerable members of our society through

The Arole Oduduwa and Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, will on Friday 16 July, 2021 lead top dignitaries including the Governor, State of Osun, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, to officially launch Ife Grand Resort & Industrial Park in Ile-Ife. In a statement signed by his Director of Media and Public Affairs, Comrade Moses Olafare and obtained by Ife City Blog on Tuesday, the Grand Resort, located beside the tollgate on the Ife-Ibadan expressway is a brand new city of hubs driven by urban renewal initiatives of the Ooni Ogunwusi to serve as the hub for sustainable development, fountain of employment generation, radar of empowerment and satellite for branding and showcasing the cultural heritage and value of Ile-Ife the source and natural headquarters of the Oduduwa race globally. According to the press release, the huge investment is a legacy project embarked upon by Ooni Ogunwusi for urban renewal and redevelopment into the current smart city global requirements in

The Arole Oduduwa and Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi Ojaja II has urged Nigerian youths to emulate exceptional qualities of outstanding members of their generation. Ooni Ogunwusi gave the advice while playing host to the Chief Executive Officer, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Karl Olutokun Toriola, at The Ile Oodua, His Palace on Saturday. The monarch  who is the Co-chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN)  described the C.E.O. as a worthy ambassador of the prestigious Yoruba heritage, adding that his good virtues should be emulated by young ones especially those building careers in different fields of life. "There is model for everything as we cannot put something on nothing. I recommend bright young minds like our own Karl Toriola to all youths, they should look up to him and learn core lessons of life particularly about growth from him. "For those who don't know, Toriola's achievements and good nature are

A high-ranking group of elders in Ile-Ife have sent strong warning to inhabitants of the ancient city to maintain peace as June 12 remembrance is to be celebrated. The Elders made this known in a statement following a peace meeting led by High Chief Adekola Adeyeye, Lowa of Ife and Oba Idowu Adediwura, Obalufe of Ife with the security agencies in Ifeland on Friday as reported by McDonald Oladipo of The SOURCE Newspaper. The meeting held at Ooni of Ife's Palace also had in attendance Chief Ezekiel Onyejekwe, Eze Ndigbo, and Alhaji Isiaka Lawal, Seriki Hausawa, Ife Development Board and Ife Action Council. "A lot have been heard that June 12 will be bloody and many are ready to vandalise private and government properties. "To this end, we don't want untold things to happen to anybody. We implore parents to warm their children not to cause crisis because security agencies are more than prepared to deal decisively with anybody that wants to destroy the peace we are enjoyi

Segilola Babalola The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in charge of Ekiti, Ondo and Osun State in collaboration with the Osun State Emergency Management Agency, OSEMA have  donated relief materials to the victims of the fire outbreak at Odo Ogbe market in Ile-Ife,  State of Osun, South-West, Nigeria. Speaking through its representative at the presentation ceremony in Ile-Ife on Thursday, Mr. Simisaye Azeez, the Federal Government through NEMA expressed  concern over the huge  losses  that  occasioned  the unfortunate  Odo-Ogbe main market fire disasters in 2020. NEMA maintained that the urgent need  to cushion the effects of the inferno on the part of the shop owners  informed its intervention to donate the relief materials valued at several millions of naira.  Mr Azeez on behalf of the Federal government  consequently donated items like  roofing sheets, nails, cements and planks among others  to the affected traders in the  market. In her welcome address, the Council Ma

Princess (Dr.) Toying Kolade Palace of the Ooni of Ife(Ile Oodua) in Ile-Ife has announced the decision of the Ooni of Ife, Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, to confer the prestigious chieftaincy title; THE IYALAJE OODUA on the Global Coordinator of the Annual AJE Festival & Lagos based international business tycoon cum philanthropist, Princess(Dr)Oluwatoyin Kolade  The announcement was expressed in a statement by Comrade Moses Olafare, Director of Media & Public Affairs, Ooni's Palace which he made available to journalists on Wednesday.  Princess Kolade's profile as a benevolent and successful major player in the Nigeria private business sector who started as a petty trader in her home town of Ilesa in the State of Osun about 35 years ago, her involvement in the promotion of the rich Yoruba cultural values, her countless humanitarian services, her virtuous character of a disciplined family woman and her unfaulted respect for the r

The Arole Oduduwa & Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, on Monday in his unique gesture spent the day which was for the commemoration of the International Women's Day, 2021 with persons with disability, during which he gave them moral and material supports. The persons who have different challenges including those who could not see, walk and hear among others stormed the ancient Ile Oodua Palace of Ile-Ife to attend the event tagged 'Ability in Disability' which the Ooni executed THROUGH a Toronto Canada based NGO, Hope4Sure Foundation. During the day-long event, several activities including talent displays during which the persons showcased their potentials which included singing, dancing, choreography, graphics designs, paintings and many more to the admiration of the hosting Ooni and the happy crowd. Addressing the audience, Ooni Ogunwusi who is Co-chairman, National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria(NCTRN) thanked the women partic

On 8th of March every year, The International Women's day is celebrated globally. The day is significant as it serves as an avenue to celebrate outstanding women across different spheres of life worldwide in addition to bringing about renewed awareness on the course for gender equality. In Ile-Ife Osun State, South-West Nigeria, this year 2021 edition of  the global event was rather marked in a special way as the Ooni of Ife,  His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi Ojaja II in his usual magnanimous style to the course of women and young ones rolled out an empowerment programme where about a hundred women were empowered in textile production, crafts and designs. Briefing journalists at the event, the Founder of The Adire Oodua Textile Hub, Ile-Ife, Princess Aderonke Ademiluyi said the one day training workshop held at the newly commissioned Textile Hub was part of the Queen Moremi Ajasoro International Initiative of His Imperial Majesty, the Arole Oduduwa,

The Late Mrs. Virginia Asake Udo Ijiwoye Adeyemo was born to the family of Chief Solomon Emefu Nwogu in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria, on May 20th, 1940. She was the last child of her parents, with four other siblings, and subsequently the last to be passed to glory among them. She was married to the late Chief Dr. Moses Abiola Ijiwoye Adeyemo from Ile Ife, Osun state, Nigeria. The union was blessed with children and grandchildren. Growing up as devout Christian, she originated from an Adventist background, particularly the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Afer her matrimonial wedlock to her loving husband, she joined his Aladura Church, The Holy Church of Christ in Ile Ife, Osun State, where she was a worker in the vineyard Having completed her primary and secondary school education in the Eastern part of Nigeria, she proceeded to higher institutions in the Southern part of the country, where she studied Nursing. Upon completion of her Nursing education, she kick started her Nursing career, w

At Ooni's Palace His Excellency, Governor Isiaq Adegboyega Oyetola, the Executive Governor of the State of Osun recently announced the Construction of an Ultramodern Stadium, the reconstruction of 2.4km road linking Iloro to Aganun and renovation of the New Market (Oja Tuntun) which was engulfed by an inferno few months ago in Ile Ife. This decision was made at the last State Executive Council meeting where the duo of Hon. Remi Omowaye, the Honourable Commissioner for Works & Transportation and Hon. Jamiu Babatunde Olawumi, the Hon. Special Adviser to the Governor on Education were to represent the Governor on the visit to His Imperial  Majesty, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Akande Ogunwusi, Ojaja II. The appointment to visit and inform the Arole Oduduwa about the anticipated developmental projects was done by Hon. Olawumi, a son of the soil, was done as a matter of exigency. The entourage were received at Ile Oodua, the Palace of Ooni of Ife with the introduction of Guests

Kunle Omirefa popularly and professionally known as Kunle H20 is a young multi-talented Nigerian upcoming Afropop singer and song writer, hailed from Ile-Ife, Osun State, South-West, Nigeria. The young music talent and CEO, H20 Media Entertainment has been featured in performances across a number of Nigerian major Cities and institutions including the homebased Ojaja II Talent Hunt, Living Spring Annual Musical Concert and a host of others. The newly released mixtape titled "THE BEST OF KUNLE H20" is a powerpacked compilation of his best tracks featuring other Ife young and promising upcoming Pop artists. A graduate of Agricultural Science from Lagos State University(LASU), Kunle H20 a.k.a Mr.Water is well positioned as one such a gifted budding star to rock the Nigerian and African world of music and entertainment in the years to come. STREAM OR DOWNLOAD THE MIXTAPE HERE

The Arole Oduduwa and Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II on Tuesday, hailed members and Management of the Ojaja II Football Club, for winning the keenly contested Taiwo Ogunjobi Under-17 memorial Cup. In a statement by his Director of Media and Public Affairs, Comrade Moses Olafare, Ooni Ogunwusi described the tournament as a clear message that the good old days of grassroots sporting activities are gradually returning for the betterment of the country. “The Ooni accepts the victory wholeheartedly and he has concluded plans to host his boys; the winning team and their officials very soon to wine and dine like they normally do. “Baba’s involvement in grassroots sports particularly football, is a product of his belief in the fact that countless untapped potentials lies in our local communities. All we need to do is to invest massively in competitions like this and we shall soon have super stars like Jay Jay Okocha, Kanu Nwakwo and Odion Ighalo among others spr