OLOJO FESTIVAL 2025: OONI ENTERS SEVEN-DAY SECLUSION, PRAYS FOR PEACE, UNITY, PROGRESS, HARPS ON UNITY AMONG MONARCHS

The Arole Oduduwa, Olofin Adimula, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, on Sunday commenced his seven-day seclusion in Ile-Ife, Osun State, as part of the traditional rites preceding the annual Olojo Festival.
The monarch declared that this year’s spiritual holiness would be dedicated to prayers for Nigeria’s peace, unity, and sustainable progress, admonishing relevant stakeholders particularly the traditional rulers across the length and breath of the Oduduwa race worldwide to embrace unity as the only veritable tool for achieving these goals.
The Olojo Festival, meaning “the Day of the First Dawn” is celebrated to mark the day the Almighty created the earth. It is one of the oldest and most respected cultural festivals in Oduduwa land, symbolising creation, renewal, and the spiritual authority of Ile-Ife as the cradle of mankind.
Speaking before going into seclusion, the Ooni prayed for Nigerians across all regions to experience divine blessings healing, and national recovery.
Ooni Ogunwusi particularly urged Nigerians to embrace unity, peace, tolerance, and love for one another, noting that without these values, the country would continue to struggle with division and underdevelopment.
He encouraged the citizens to rise above ethnic and religious differences, stressing that Nigeria’s strength lies in its diversity.
“I am praying for Nigeria and for Nigerians. I seek God’s mercy upon this land. May we all experience peace, unity, progress, and the blessings of the Almighty. To the sons and daughters of Oduduwa everywhere, I urge you: be peaceful, be united, and let us work together for progress,” the Ooni said.
He further called on political leaders to act responsibly, urging them to govern with fairness, justice, and compassion.
According to him, leadership must always prioritise the welfare of the people, adding that no society thrives when its leaders ignore the cries of the masses.
The seven-day seclusion is a period of spiritual purification during which the Ooni abstains from public appearances and engages in meditation, and prayer. It is seen as a sacred responsibility that connects the monarch with the divine and his ancestors, enabling him to intercede for his subjects and the nation.
Traditionally, the seclusion period also prepares the monarch for the climax of the Olojo Festival, when he will appear wearing the sacred Aare crown, a relic believed to be the original crown of Oduduwa.
During the festival’s climax, the Ooni leads processions, ancestral rites, and prayers at significant historical sites in Ile-Ife. These rituals reaffirm the town’s place as the spiritual heart of the Yoruba people and unite indigenes and visitors in celebration of cultural pride and heritage.
By dedicating this year’s seclusion to the well-being of Nigeria, the Ooni reinforces the role of traditional rulers as moral and spiritual guides. His message of unity, peace, and progress resonates strongly at a time when many Nigerians are yearning for hope, stability, and a renewed sense of purpose.
As the Olojo Festival gathers momentum, anticipation builds among the Yorubas and beyond. For the Ooni, the week-long solitude is not just about preserving tradition, but about invoking blessings on his people, reminding all sons and daughters of Oduduwa to remain united, peaceful, and progressive in the pursuit of a greater Nigeria.
Earlier same day, the Ooni who doubles as permanent Co-chair man, National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria(NCTRN) and Chairman, Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Council(SNTRC) was at Ibadan on a historic visit to the new Olubadan of Ibadan land and the incumbent chairman of the Oyo state Council of Obas, His Royal Majesty, Oba Rasheed Ladoja in a show of love and solidarity with the good people Ibadan land expressing his regrets as he will not be able to attend the forthcoming Olubadan’s coronation slated Friday this week saying it’s coincidental with his Olojo Seclusion rites.
He received at Ibadan by a mammoth crowd of Ibadan indigenes including the Mogajis and other Ibadan monarchs. The hosting Olubadan in his response did not hide his happiness as he commended the visiting the natural head of the Oduduwa race globally for his personal sacrifices to unite the Yoruba and other racial member groups with the larger Oduduwa race worldwide.
Ladoja further urged other Yoruba monarchs to emulate the Ooni urging them to focus on strengthening the cultural values and institutions that unite them, rather than those that divide them.
The Olubadan designate said people look up to traditional rulers not just for leadership but also for inspiration and protection.
“Kabiyesi Oonirisa, If we all come together with our ideas, with yours, we will have our way, and as God will have it, the president of the country is our son, and he has even assured me he will be present at my coronation ceremony.
“The experience of governance is different from the experience used in political intrigues and the business circle. I don’t have the experience Ooni has because ten years on the throne is no joke. By the grace of God, you will be one of my teachers. I have said this to all the obas who have visited me.