2024 IGBOORA WORLD TWINS FESTIVAL ATTRACT GLOBAL TOURISTS AS OYO GOVERNMENT PLEDGE TO EXPLORE ITS ECONOMIC POTENTIALS.

The Executive Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency, Engr. Seyi Makinde (FNSE) has reinterated the Oyo State Government’s commitment in promoting the economic potentials of the global Twins Festival naturally endowed with Igboora Community in the Ibarapa Central Local Government area of the state.

The Governor, who was represented by Barrister Adebayo Lawal, the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, stated this at the grand finale of the world Twins festival at the Methodist Grammar school playing ground, Saganun Igboora on Saturday, 12th October 2024.

The grand style festival had in attendance assemblies of twins, tourists from different countinents, the Olu of Ilaro and Chairman Ogun State Council of Obas, His Royal Majesty, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, the Chairman of the occasion, Hon. Abass Adigun Agboworin, member representing Ibadan North-East and South-East Federal Constituency, Hon. Dr. Anthony Adepoju, representing Ibarapa Central/North federal constituency, Hon. Peter Gbadegeshin, Oyo State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Hon. Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun, the Honourable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Chief Ademola Obafemi Ojo, Hon. Wasilat Adegoke, Oyo State Commissioner for Youth & Sports, executive chairman Ibarapa Central Local Government, Hon. Sola Adeleke , executive chairman, Ibarapa North Local Government, Hon. Lawal Akorede, Igboora Community leaders and various figures in tourism globally.

According to Bar. Lawal, the Oyo State Government will continue to improve on efforts in making Igboora Twins Festival gain global recognition through celebration of the cultural heritage and reinforcing its identity as a symbol of multiple births. This according to him can be accomplished by placing Igboora Twins Festival on UNESSCO, which remains the vision of the current administration of Gov. Seyi Makinde.

“We must work hand in hand to propagate this phenomenon. God has decided to place Igboora on global map for the blessing of Twins birth.

“If we talk about the delicacy, it’s not only Igboora that consumes Ilasa, this worth celebrating because of the uniqueness.

“Under my watch through the ministry of culture and tourism, we shall continue making efforts to bring Igboora Twins Festival to International standard so that people will come allover the world.

“We urge the community to as a matter of importance release some parcel of land for subsequent twins Festival activities (Twins Village), the local government should equally put up a paper for us to kickstart construction of a building for preservation of artifacts relating to histories of Twins.

“The community has done so well in the preparation of the festival, but they need to work more on publicity in subsequent festival, it’s important to avail the global communities of this uniqueness.

“We saw the pace of work on the Ido – Eruwa road, by God’s grace, we shall intensify efforts to get it completed in earnest.

“I appreciate our Royal fathers and seek for partnership and cooperation of indigenes of Ibarapa in making these dreams achievable. I acknowledge important personalities like Hon. Justice S.A Akinteye, Alhaja Ranti Adedigba, Dr. and Mrs Adepoju to mention few, we need more of their supports”, he concluded.

Speaking on behalf of the commissioners, the commissioner for culture and tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun while appreciating the supports of the Oyo State Governor and Igboora Community, reiterated his ministry’s efforts under the overseer of the Deputy Governor, Bar. Bayo Lawal to incorporate global communities to make subsequent celebration more elaborate. He called on Indegenes of Ibarapa to collaborate with the state government to actualize developmental visions of the festival.

The Olu of Igboora, Oba Jimoh Titiloye in his remarks welcome the global communities in associating with Igboora on the blessing of Twins Festival which he described as “Not fetish”.

The monarch appreciate the executive Governor of Oyo State, Eng. Seyi Makinde and members of Oyo State executive council for the yearly support which always had in attendance the Governor of the state since the beginning of his tenure.

Oba Titiloye referenced the blessing of Twins to a study conducted by the British Gynaecologist from 1972 – 1982 that the south west of Nigeria recorded an average of 45 to 50 sets of Twins in every 1000 births. According to Oba Titiloye, in Igboora, the rate is about 30 times higher than all of Europe as reported by BBC.

Olu of Igboora urged the Oyo State Government to upgrade the 2025 twins Festival to National level through intersectoral and intrasectoral collaborations.

The Chairman of the occasion, Hon. Abass Adigun Agboworin who is a serving member representing Ibadan North – East – South federal constituency thanked the people of Ibarapa for making him part of this year’s celebration of uniqueness of twins, venerated in Igboora. He described the celebration as a global event worth celebrating.

The honourable representing Ibarapa Central/North federal constituency, Hon. Dr. Anthony Adepoju while appreciating Oyo State Government and dignitaries who came far and near to appreciate what he described as “Natural endowment” to Igboora and Ibarapa land in general. He pledge his commitments in using legislative efforts towards propagating the uniqueness.

The Executive Chairman Ibarapa Central Local Government, Hon. Sola Adeleke global cited the global recognition quoting the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC): “almost every house in Igboora has at least one set of twins,” this according made the town a symbol of life’s beauty, unity and love.

“This festival is not just a celebration of twins; it is a celebration of the unity and rich heritage that twins represent. It is a moment of pride not only for Ibarapa Central but for Nigeria and the world. Our twins symbolize love, unity, and the beauty of life itself.

“Our twins festival represents a unique cultural heritage, and as we celebrate, I urge all of us to come together and work for the progress of Ibarapa Central. Our collective efforts will surely lead us to a brighter future,” he added.

The Chairman Igboora Community foundation, Dr. Bisi Adeniran described the annually celebrated Global Twins Festival as God’s given biological endowment. According to him, the event started in 2018 as a pet project of Igboora Community foundation (ICF), and ever since been consistently celebrated. He urged stakeholders to use the biological endowment explore and promote the economic potentials through making Igboora a tourist destination.

Royal fathers in attendance include the Onidere of Idere, Oluaso of Iberekodo, Asigangan of Igangan, Onilala of Lanlate, Asawo of Ayete, Elempe of Tapa, Babaaso of Igbole, Onisaganun of Saganun, Onidofin of Idofin and traditional rulers from Oke ogun.

Igboora Community leaders at the occasion include Dr. and Chief (Mrs) Amos Adepoju, Alhaja Ranti Adedigba, Hon. Justice S.A Akinteye (rtd), Prince S.G Olaoye, Alhaji O.M Abass, Alhaji Hassan Okunade, Hon. Yemi Akinlabi, Eng. Azeez Adeoye and eminent Indegenes.