History and a proper knowledge of culture and historic events are very important. Our children are growing up in different times (the computer age), and we cannot accept that they will automatically know, acknowledge, accept and continue to celebrate what happened in the past, if we do not take it upon ourselves to keep on educating and motivating them through innovation.
It will be equally wrong to only look at the past, without contextualising it in the present and to project it into the future. Better knowledge and understanding of what happened yesterday, if applied intelligently, objectively and with humility, could lead to a better understanding of today, could help us to avoid a repetition of the mistakes of yesterday, and contribute towards a better tomorrow for all in our beloved Ikere Kingdom.
On this note may I give kudos to an icon of development, a proactive and visionary leader blessed with the philosophy of the seven sages which is profound wisdom, the Prescribed Authority and Paramount Ruler of Ikere Kingdom, HRM Alayeluwa, Oba Samuel Adejimi Adu Alagbado, Agirilala II, Ogoga of Ikere Kingdom for his accurate sagacity in initiating the construction of a befitting IKERE HALL OF FAME.
Ikere Hall of Fame is a modern multipurpose museum (first of its kind in Ekiti and environs) which was conceptualized by Kabiyesi and built by Bobagunwa Dimeji Isiaka for Ikere Kingdom. To the Glory of Almighty God, Ikere Hall of Fame is due for official commissioning on Saturday December 2, 2017 by Oonirinsa Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II. Oonirinsa has scheduled first week of December 2017 for his visit to Ikere Kingdom as part of his unification move among Yoruba Kingdoms (details shall be communicated). Ikere Hall of Fame will be ICT equipped with Audio-Visual link to British Museum and Brooklyn Museum (both British and Brooklyn Museum housed some of our forefathers’ artifacts e.g Great Olowe Door). As the name implies, Hall of Fame is for very few that we can call legends. It is for those that we look up to, those that inspire us, those that have done what few others have ever done or could ever do and those whose remarkable contribution needs to be recognized now and always.
Ikere Hall of fame comprises about six sections namely:
- Historical Museum: This section will house collections of Ikere Artifacts, Antiquities, Cultural items, Books on Ikere Kingdom, Archives etc
- Royal Court: This section is dedicated to house portraits and brief history of All Obas from the first Ogoga till date (for those Obas whose record pictures cannot be found, their portraits will be made based on narration and their exploits); their Crowns, Regalia will be on display.
- Brave Men of Old: This section will accommodate portraits and brief history of Ikere brave men of the old namely Aladeselu, Oloje (Olukere), Ejibausi, Olosun (Olosunta) etc. Their portraits will be made based on narration and their exploits.
- The Ikeres from another Town: This section is dedicated for portraits and brief history of prominent non Ikere indigenes who have contributed positively to the development of Ikere e.g Late Dr Moshood of General Hospital, Late Mr Jegede of African Comprehensive High School, Dr Ajayi of Ajayi Polytechnic etc.
- The Pioneers: This section will house portraits and brief history of ALL Ikere pioneers in different field e.g First Ikere Graduate, First Ikere Professor, First Ikere Bishop, First Ikere Lawyer, First Ikere Medical Doctor, First Ikere Justice, First Ikere Military General etc. Consideration will be given to indigenes who complement the pioneers’ achievements in their respective field with exceptional achievements at National and Global level e.g Prof Olu Longe (though not first Ikere Professor but he is the first Professor of Computer Science in Nigeria), Prof Niyi Osundare (though not first Ikere Professor but he is the ONLY Professor that have received Nigeria’s highest award for academic excellence: Nigerian National Merit Award for Humanities NNMA), Asiwaju Wole Olanipekun SAN (though not first Ikere Lawyer but he is the first Ikere Lawyer to attain the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria) etc
- The Legends: This section will house portraits and brief history of Ikere indigenes who have exceptional accomplishment in their chosen field and at the same time have used their position for exceptional service to visible positive development of Ikere Kingdom (the two criteria must be present) e.g
|
NAME |
CAREER EXPLOIT |
CONTRIBUTION TO IKERE |
|
Princess Bisi Ogunleye |
Chartered Accountant; Fmr FCT Minister |
Facilitated and initiated the construction of Ikere City Hall |
|
Dr Kola Adeyina |
Medical Practitioner; Expert Surgeon |
Established first Private Hospital in Ikere Ekiti (Legus Hospital) |
|
Asiwaju Wole Olanipekun, SAN |
Senior Advocate of Nigeria; NBA President; University Pro-Chancellor |
Donation of Amenity Medical Centre; Facilitated establishment of NBA Ikere Branch; Scholarship scheme sponsor for over 20years; Establishment of Private Radio |
|
HE Bisi Omoyeni |
Banker par excellence; Fmr MD of WEMA Bank; Fmr Deputy Governor |
Facilitated establishment of WEMA Bank branch in Ikere |
|
Mrs Juliana Adu |
An Educator par excellence |
Established the first Private Nur/Pry School in Ikere (Folorunso N/P School) |
|
Late Prof M.O Olofinboba |
Erudite Professor; An Educator par excellence |
Established the first Private Secondary School in Ikere (Bobas High School) |
|
Late Chief Isaac A Omotosho (Onward) |
Industrialist par excellence |
Establishment of small scale industries |
|
Late Chief Olorunfemi Obateru |
Business Tycoon |
Establishment of small scale industries |
|
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My people, more nominations are requested for different aforementioned categories. Nomination should be in this format:
- Name of Nominee
- Category of Nominee (e.g Pioneer, Legend, Ikere from other Town etc)
- Brief history of Nominee
- Career Exploit of Nominee
- Nominee’s visible positive contribution to Ikere development
Kindly forward your nominations to ikerehallfame@googlegroups.com between now and Nov 15, 2017.
