Odide day: Bishop harps on love, unity among kabba indigenes

Published By: Ayorinde Oluokun

By Richard Elesho/Kogi

The Bishop of the Anglican Cathedral church of St Andrews Kabba, Bishop Steven Akobe has called on the people of Kabba to embrace peace and unity so as to enhance the rapid development of the ancient town.

The Bishop gave this advice on Sunday during the thanksgiving service held at the church to wind up the three day event of the 2024 Odide day celebration organized by the Ilajo Royal family .

He said without love and unity, there can not be development in the town and called on all clans and families in kabba to close rank and work together as indivisible entity to move the community forward

While eulogizing the royal family for rounding up their cultural day celebration with thanksgiving in the church, he urged the family to make God the first in whatever they do and prayed for the Ilajo royal family and the kabba community as a whole for peace, progress and development.

Bishop Steven Akobe quoted various Bible passages where God urged all men to dwell in peace,love and unity with all and prayed for the progress of the Ilajo family and all other families in kabba even as he called on the eminent sons and daughters of Owe- kabba land to come home and set up industries to develop the area.

Earlier, a renown Scholar in Bayero university Kano, Prof Adetokunbo Rafel Adebola has called on the youths to only go for courses that will make them to be self reliant after graduation so as to avoid being jobless.

Prof Adebola who was a guest speaker at the 2024 Odide day Cultural ceremony organized by the Ilajo Royal family of Kabba gave this advice during the Family’s Banquet which took place at the Lisa Palm Hotel kabba .

The Erudite scholar who is a retired Wing Commander stressed that most of the courses Nigerian youths are rushing for at the tertiary institutions are obsolete and not marketable and urged them to embrace modern technology via digital education adding that the advent of Artificial intelligence is a serious threats to some courses and jobs.

The guest speaker who spoke on the topic” Love and unity as ingredients for community development ” stressed the need for the youths to think out -of- the box and be productive and expressed the need for them to shun greed, materialism and criminal acts that may jeopardize their future saying whatever they invested their energies in doing at their youthful age is what they will eventually reap in their old age.

Earlier at the colourful ceremony, the president general of the Ilajo descendants union, Dr Samuel Alori said the Odide day programme is annual event to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Kabba and an event to bring all the sons and daughters of the royal family together in love.

He said the year’s edition with the theme: “Odun ife ati Irepo” (celebration of Love and Unity) started with free medical outreach, cultural dances and praise and worship to God on Friday with the invitation of prominent men of God led by Pastor Shae Bebeyi who led series of prayers for the royal family and the kabba community.

Also, the chairman planning committee, Elder James Oluwole Adebola in his address on the occasion stated that Odide Day celebration is meant to celebrate the memories and great achievements of Obaro Odide, the progenitor of the Ilajo Royal family, and to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the ancient town of Kabba

He later led the presentation of awards of excellence to eleven prominent personalities for their outstanding contributions to the development of the Owe community which include the president of Kabba Development Union, Engineer Emmanuel Ajibero, head of INTERPOL in Nigeria, AIG Idowu Owohunwa and Vice Admiral Joseph Ajayi (rtd) former Defence Chief of Intelligence. Pa Adebiyi , a non indigene, who was honoured for his ” love and commitment to Owe land”

Others who were honoured for their various contributions to the community, are renowned entrepreneur, investment banker and philanthropist, Mr Gabriel Adetuuntun.