The Awori Welfare Association of Nigeria (AWAN) has disclosed that the maiden edition of the Awori Cultural Festival tagged “Awori Day 2022” will come up on December 11 at the Police College, Ikeja, Lagos.
The President (AWAN) and a former Commissioner for Finance in Lagos State, Alhaji Olagbaye Ajibola who disclosed during a media conference organized by AWAN in conjunction with the Awori Tourism Board Incorporated at Awori House, Oregun, Ikeja, gave the Theme of the cultural festival as ‘United We Stand.’
Olagbaye explained that the event would be the first in the history of the Awori people.
The President who identified the Aworis as the first settlers in Lagos, said that they had since played a dominant role in the socio-economic development of Lagos, adding that there was a need to uphold their culture and traditions through a dedicated day to celebrate the people.
Also speaking, a member of the advisory council and a former Commissioner in Lagos, Asiwaju Micheal Olawale-Cole, who noted that the history of Lagos will not be completed without the Aworis, emphasized that over a three-quarter of the indigenous population of Lagos were Aworis adding that they also form a considerable part of Ogun State.
The Chairman of, the Central Planning Committee, Prince Adetunji Fadina who announced December 11 as the new date to celebrate Awori Day said the initial date was shifted from November 26, 2022, to December 11 to give room for better planning.
Prince Fadina in his address said that Awori Day Cultural Festival 2022 is a cultural festival to showcase to the world the rich culture and tourism products of the Awori people as their contribution to tourism development and promotion in Lagos and Ogun State, noting that no one else would celebrate them if they failed to do so.
He called on all sons and daughters of Awori land in the diaspora to join in the celebration of the Awori Culture, expressing gratitude to the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his unwavering support towards the planning of the first Awori Day Cultural Festival in Lagos, Nigeria.
The former Lagos State Commissioner for transport Hon. Kayode Opeifa assured Lagosians that the festival would showcase to the world the unity of the Awori people, adding that it would also bring to light the beauty of the diverse cultural activities from different parts of Lagos and Ogun State.
Awori Welfare Association of Nigeria (AWAN) is a social-cultural organization that seeks the welfare of all Aworis both in Lagos and Ogun States and Diaspora while Awori Tourism Board Inc. is a leading international tourism, Destination Evaluation and interpretation, recreation, and conservation consulting firm based in Lagos and Ogun State.
