Governor Adeleke, Nike Okundaye, Others to Receive Honours at World Headdress Celebration

 

The Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, will be honoured with a prestigious award for his iconic cap at the second edition of the World Headdress Celebration scheduled to hold on Sunday, December 28, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Also to be honoured at the global cultural event are Chief (Mrs) Nike Monica Okundaye, Founder of Nike Art Foundation and Nike Art Gallery, for her distinctively innovative headgear; Ambassador Taofeek Ọládẹ̀jọ Arapaja, Former Deputy Governor of Oyo State and National Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP); Barrister Wale Ojo-Lanre, Director-General of the Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development; and Alhaji Onaolapo Gbolagin, a retired broadcaster with the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS).

This was disclosed in a press statement signed by Mr. Ọlawale Ajao, Chairman of Omo Yoruba Atata Socio-cultural Initiative (OYASI), organisers of the annual World Headdress Celebration.

According to the statement, the world cultural event, whose maiden edition was held on December 28, 2024, will take place on Sunday, December 28, 2025, at the Single Tennis Court, Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan, by 12:00 noon.

Mr. Ajao explained that the celebration is aimed at promoting global appreciation of headgears and positioning the event for consideration and eventual recognition by UNESCO as a World Headdress Day.

“The World Headdress Celebration showcases crowns, caps, and headgears from cultures across the globe, with special emphasis on the symbolic, spiritual, and artistic magnificence of Yoruba headdresses, which are true emblems of identity, prestige, and cultural heritage,” he said.

The event will also feature posthumous awards in honour of two revered Yoruba personalities: the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, First Premier of Western Nigeria, and the late Alhaji AbdulAzeez Arisekola Alao, former Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta States.

Highlights of the celebration include a gele-tying competition, with prizes for the best three gele tyers, as well as awards for the most attractive cap wearers and gèlè wearers. All participants are required to wear a cap or headgear in keeping with the essence of the World Headdress Celebration.

Lectures on the significance of headdress among the Yoruba people will be delivered by renowned cultural and traditional scholars, including Araba Ifáyẹmi Elebuibon, the Araba of Osogboland; Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi, the Olúwò of Ìwóland; and veteran author and intellectual, Elder Debo Awe.

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, who is expected to host traditional rulers including the Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye; gbe Aseyin of Iseyinland, Oba Sefiu Olawale Oyebola, among others.

Chairman of the occasion is the Chairman of Aláròyé Newspapers and Yoruba World Centre, Mr Alao Adedayo. Other distinguished personalities expected include Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat, Chief Executive Officer of Agidigbo FM, Ibadan, and Mrs. Deborah Olufunke Awoyele, Chief Executive Officer of Deborah Adefunke Nigeria Ltd.