ABEOKUTA – The Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, has said that the annual Lisabi Festival has drastically improved on the socio-economic development of Egba Nation and Ogun State at large.
Oba Gbadebo while answering questions on Monday from journalists at a press conference heralding the 2026 Lisabi festival held at the Ake Palace ground, Abeokuta, noted that the 2026 edition would be different from past editions, saying all sections in Egbaland will be participating in the celebration.
The monarch maintained that, the festival has attracted foreign investors and tourists to Egbaland who patronize the local markets and tourist sites in the state, thereby boosting the economy of the state.
Oba Gbadebo equally said, the festival has served as a source of empowerment for youths in the state as Egba sons and daughters in the diaspora have given hundreds of scholarships, and free education to indigent students in the state.
Alake said the festival has also served as a way of complementing government efforts towards provision of social amenities such as installation of borehole water supply, solar street electricity, job employment opportunities for the youths, and provision of public toilets in the suburbs.
This development, the monarch submitted has further strengthened unity among the Egba Ake; Oke-Ona; Gbagura and Owu.
He expressed his delight in so many notable achievements recorded by Egba sons and daughters in various areas of human endeavours.
“Egbaland is on the global map because of many firsts recorded by our sons and daughters in all spheres of human life. We cannot afford to close our eyes to various societal ills in which our youths are engaging themselves. We need to maintain our standard of being the first among the rest.”
Also speaking, the Chairman Planning Committee 2026 Lisabi Festival, Navy Capt. Rasheed Raji (Rtd) stated that the theme for this year’s celebration “integrating apprenticeship training into education: Opportunities and Challenges” would address all issues surrounding unemployment and skilled work.
He explained that the Festival has continued to provide the platform for Egbaland to showcase its rich cultural heritage to the world.
He highlighted seminars; horse riding; quiz competition; trado-medicine exhibitions; social programmes for the youths; procession to Igbo Lisabi; and conferment of chieftaincy titles and awards on distinguished sons and daughters as part of activities lined up the week-long programme, starting from 17th to 23rd March.
