Sanwo-Olu, Akran of Badagry Set to Grace 2025 Olokun World Festival in Grand Celebration of Yoruba Culture

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, alongside top government officials, traditional rulers, and cultural enthusiasts from across the world, is set to attend the 2025 edition of the Olokun World Festival. The annual cultural event, organized by the Olokun Festival Foundation (OFF), will take place in Badagry and is expected to attract no fewer than 100,000 participants from within and outside Nigeria.

The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland and Chief Promoter of the Olokun Festival Foundation, Iba Gani Adams, announced this during a press conference held at Oodua House, Ikeja, Lagos. Represented by Barrister Yinka Oguntimehin, Adams explained that the festival, which has been celebrated for over two decades, remains one of the biggest platforms for showcasing the rich heritage, spirituality, and creativity of the Yoruba people.

He noted that Olokun—the revered deity of the deep sea—symbolizes wealth, mystery, and abundance. “The festival offers a rare opportunity to reconnect with our cultural roots and celebrate the values, arts, and traditions that define us as a people,” Adams said.

The Yoruba generalissimo unveiled the lineup of activities for the 2025 edition, beginning with an interfaith prayer session on Tuesday, October 21, featuring Christian, Muslim, and traditional faith leaders. This will be followed by a fashion show on Wednesday, October 22; a visit to a motherless babies’ home on Thursday, October 23; and the highly anticipated beauty pageant on Saturday, October 25, 2025. The grand finale, he added, will showcase the beauty of nature and the spiritual depth of the Olokun tradition.

Highlighting the festival’s growing global appeal, Adams disclosed that over 10,000 tourists from countries including Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, Brazil, and Cuba have attended past editions. He emphasized that beyond its cultural and spiritual importance, the festival contributes significantly to tourism and economic development. “Every year, hundreds of millions of naira go into organizing the Olokun World Festival, stimulating trade and hospitality in Badagry and its environs,” he stated.

Iba Adams further revealed that the Foundation had recently acquired land for the establishment of its own beachfront, named Kakanfo Falola Beach. The site, he said, would be developed into a world-class tourism destination featuring a hotel, cinema house, gym centers, conference hall, mini festival stadium, and an Olympic-size swimming pool.

Among dignitaries expected at the grand finale are Lagos State Governor, Mr. Sanwo-Olu; Commissioner for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka; and over 30 royal fathers led by the Akran of Badagry, Oba De-Wheno Aholu (Aholu Wheno Toyi I). The royal father of the day will be Oba Joseph Ikudaisi, the Alagbegise of Agbegise Kingdom in Ogun State.

Adams assured that adequate security arrangements have been made for all guests and participants. He also urged governments at all levels to encourage youth engagement through cultural and creative programs, while calling on the Federal Government to offer tax waivers to corporate sponsors of cultural, educational, and sports initiatives.

He commended traditional rulers across Yorubaland for preserving their heritage through annual cultural festivals and encouraged others to do the same, regardless of religious background. “Culture and religion are not the same,” Adams stressed. “Celebrating our culture strengthens unity, boosts commerce, attracts tourism, and reconnects our people with their ancestral roots.”