The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Babatunde Akiolu, has announced that the Eyo Festival will take place on Saturday, December 27, 2025, to honour the late Chief Abibatu Mogaji, mother of President Bola Tinubu, as well as the late Lateef Jakande and Sir Michael Otedola.
Oba Akiolu made the announcement during a media briefing at Iga Idunganran Palace, Lagos Island, attended by the White Cap Chiefs.
He assured residents and tourists of adequate security before, during, and after the festival and warned masquerades against harassing spectators or participants.
“Eyo is not an avenue to make money for any chief. It is our sacred heritage and must be treated with dignity,” the monarch said.
The festival will be held at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), limited to Lagos Island, with 100 buses planned to transport participants from across the state.
The Eyo Festival, also known as the Adamu Orisha Play, is a traditional Yoruba festival that celebrates Lagos’ ancestral heritage and guides the souls of departed kings and chiefs to the afterlife.
Participants, called Eyo, wear white robes, veils, and colour-coded hats, carrying long staffs, while the procession includes singing, drumming, and dancing.