
* Governor Ambode * Pix Source : www.premiumtimesng.com
Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode will next weekend lead top dignitaries to declare open Kayokayo Festival, the historical highly revered religious gathering of the Epe people.
This was made known in statement jointly signed by Alhaji Nabis Kaka, and Alhaji (Chief) Tunde Bello Publicity Secretary and Kayokayo committee secretary.
According to the statement the one week festival, the traditional melting pot of Epe Indigenes and a baby of Oba Shafiu Olatunji Adewale, Bamgbopa Eshilokun, the Olu Epe of Epe Kingdom, is an annual celebration of the historical arrival of Prince Kosoko, a famous Lagos King to Epe Kingdom in 1851.
The festival which places a lot of religious importance on its tourism value chain is seen by the people of the town which incidentally is the home town of Governor Ambode, as a classical look alike arrival of Noah of the Bible.
Chairman Kayokayo 2016 Organising Committee Alhaji (Chief) Shakiru Alade Okule explained that the 2016 Festival will be celebrated to open Epe historical Kingdom to tourism dreams of Lagos State government, adding that the week-long event would keep tourists on their toes with Oganla exponent; Wasiu Alabi Pasuma to drive the entertainment content.
Other key content of the Kayo Kayo festival include prayer outing – Tahjud at Epe Central Mosque next Friday, a Quranic competition, a replica of the water Voyage of King Kosoko, a youth rally, children’s party, royal visit by the Oba to the districts of Epe founding fathers, Royal procession on the Lagoon beach and the Kayokayo Musical Night.
The statement further stated that this year event would herald the strategic link of Epe’s Ocean economy to tourism, particularly the famous Epe fish market which could feed the entire protein needs of Lagosians with potential for the export market.