The Ogun State governor-elect, Prince Dapo Abiodun has said that its government will give adequate priority to the state cultural troupe as they have travelled far and near the globe with an array of awards, laurels and encomiums, and it was imperative to pay much attention to be excel in all of their outings.
Abiodun stated this at the pre-inauguration cultural evening organised to herald him into office on May 29, 2019, held at June 12, Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, the state capital.
He affirmed that the state’s cultural troupe was a world class professional, which was established and fund by the State government, noting that the troupes comprises of varied talented artists, like dancers, drummers, singers, acrobats and many more.
He said that the uniqueness of the troupe was its mastery and ability to perform dances from state, Nigeria, Africa and others, even beyond African shore, saying that though, the troupes residents in June 12 Cultural centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, but also set to conquer the artistic world in its resolve to promote, present, propagate and preserve the richly endowed cultural heritage of the state.
“With all these achievement being recorded by our cultural troupe in the state, its very imperative to give more attention to the troupe in order to achieve better than this, that’s why am going to prioritise the sector, so as to be more proactive in all their ramifications and win more laurels as well as to make our dear state proud in the comity of states of the federation”, Abiodun said
Earlier, the Cultural Evening Committee, Chairman and former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Hon. Muyiwa Oladipo attributed the success being recorded for the last few years as a result of steadfastness, uniqueness and level of professionalism being displayed by the state troupe in its outing across the Africa.
He added that the incoming administration of Prince Dapo Abiodun would not relent on his efforts to make the state cultural troupe achieve best in their activities, noting that Ogun State was well known and recognised in education, health, infrastructure, culture and tourism and even in the other sectors.
“We are using this cultural troupe to usher in our next governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun and to let him realise too that Ogun State is one of the vast state in terms of cultural heritage and tourism, that’s why we are performing/showcasing live and direct, as well as to always see them as one the state legacy if the government could pay much priority to it”, Muyiwa said
Those cultural group performing live at the event including, ‘AJAGBODE’, a rich cultured dance group from Ipokia in the Yewa Division of the state, ‘BALUFON CULTURAL GROUP’, a fascinating, regal dance group in the Remo Division of the state, ‘OGODO’, a rich cultural musical and dance of the Egbas in the Egba Division, ‘BATA-OTA’, a rich assemblage of energetic, vibrant drummers and dancers from Ota, Yewa-Awori Zone of the state and ‘YENGBEN’, which representing the Ijebu division of the state, it was also a richly endowed cultural dance group with scintillating dance steps and electrifying gracefully movement originally connected to the riverine deity.
The dignitaries that graced the event, including, former state governor, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, former Deputy Governor, Prince Segun Adesegun, Senator, Lanre Tejuoso, Senator, Gbenga Obadara, former Speaker state Assembly, Hon. Titi Oseni Gomez, Hon. Ibrahim Isiaka, MHR, Hon. Kunle Olumo, among others. While all the traditional rulers, include, Alake of Egbaland, Oba, Aremu Adedotun Gbadebo and others were present at the event.