Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has declared Thursday, August 20, a public Oyo State work-free day in commemoration of Isese Day, a key date dedicated to celebrating the rich Yoruba cultural heritage and spiritual traditions across the region.
This directive was confirmed through an official memorandum signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Musibau Babatunde.
Isese Day: Honouring Traditions Across Oyo State and Beyond
According to the official circular, the governor extended his warm felicitations to all adherents of African traditional religion living across Oyo State, Nigeria, and the wider global diaspora, wishing them a deeply fulfilling and spiritually enriching celebration.
Governor Makinde reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to religious equity and fairness across all faiths, using the occasion to express his gratitude to traditional worshippers for their constant support throughout his past seven years in office.
Uniting the Community for Peace and Cultural Tourism
The official declaration of this work-free day will ensure that workers and residents can fully participate in the Isese Day festivities to pray for the overall peace, unity, and stability of both the state and the country.
It will be recalled that Governor Makinde first institutionalised the official Isese Day celebration as part of his administration’s broad strategy to honour traditional practitioners. Beyond spiritual recognition, the policy focuses on harnessing the state’s cultural tourism potential to drive sustainable economic development, reinforcing that cultural heritage remains one of Oyo State’s most vital identity assets.
