Ogun celebrates at 45

…Plans one year of activities

Activities marking the 45th anniversary of the creation of Ogun  State in 1976 will begin on Wednesday 3rd February 2021.

It will be recalled that on February 3, 1976, the then Head of State, General Murtala Muhammed announced in a nationwide broadcast, the creation of seven new states to increase the number of states in Nigeria from 12 to 19.

Ogun State, one of three states created from the old Western State, comprising all the six States in the present day south west Nigeria, is a fusion of the old Abeokuta/Egbado and Ijebu/Remo divisions of the defunct Egba and Ijebu provinces.

A statement in Abeokuta on Sunday by the Honourable State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Alhaji Abdulwaheed Odusile said the year-long celebration will be low key due to the precarious public health situation in the country following the resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic, and in line with government-declared protocols on how to combat the dreaded disease.

“On Wednesday, 3rd February there will be a state broadcast by His Excellency, the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, MFR. This will be followed by a virtual colloquium themed ‘Ogun State: The Legacy of a Great Future,’” the statement said.

The lead paper at the event will be presented by the renowned scholar of public administration and retired federal permanent secretary, Professor Tunji Olaopa.

“Other programmes including various school competitions and the commissioning of landmark projects of the Governor Abiodun administration will take place at different times in the course of the year especially as we move towards the second anniversary of this people centred administration,” Odusile said.