By Kehinde Emmanuel, Ilorin
As the grand finale of the celebration of OVIA Osese festival will take place on Saturday 18th day of April 2026, the Ogori people in Kogi state have rejoiced and congratulated girls that would be initiated to womanhood.
While speaking in separate interviews, the National President of the Ogori Descendant Union who just bagged his PhD at the Nasarawa State University Keffi, Aiso Gabriel, the National vice president Mrs Petra Akinti Onyegbule, the assistant secretary Mr Friday Moses, Mr Mosugu M.A Nathaniel, Pastor Flourish Atoju, His Royal Highness Ven. Abisoye Oyedele, Prince Banji Akerejola, Rise Noah, Pastor Agbabiaka Victor, His Royal Majesty David OJO Akande the Otaro – Idu Enaka 1 of Ogori Kingdom Mrs Emafiye Ajayi – Daniel nee Mosugu who is the daughter of late royal father HRM Barr. Mosugu SAN who died on January 26, 2026 at the age of 88, Professor Caroline Aturu-Aghedo, Hon. Ojo Aturu all stated that graduating from girls-child to womanhood celebration in Ogori Kingdom of Kogi State is an age-long festival which has started from the time immemorial, saying no girls in their town can marry without passing through this process, and at end of the ceremony, the certificate would be presented to them as a mark of participation.
They further stated that Ovia Osese festival celebration serves as a way of preventing girls-child from having pre-marital sex, unwanted pregnancy and early marriage without job and sound education and that the programme draws indigenes, not only within Nigeria, but from all over the globe to come home and participate in it.
They also stressed that this programme is more celebrated than any others programmes like Big Sallah and Christmas in Ogori and that it is well recognised and supported by the UNESCO.
