By Dorcas Elusogbon
The Erelu of Iraye Kingdom, Dr Busola Odedina, has celebrated Iro Day 2026 with distribution of foodstuffs, with no fewer than 400 people benefitting from her medical outreach.
The Erelu Iro Community Impact Day 2026 with the topic: “Celebrating Culture, Health & Community Development”, came up at Akodi Obalaaye, Lukohun, Iraye Kingdom, on Wednesday, in Ile-Ife.
Busola Onigbogi Odedina Girls Empowerment Foundation, in conjunction with Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex and its Department of Medicine & Ophthalmology & Community Health, collaborated on Erelu Iro Community Impact Health Day, 2026.
Odedina said that Iro symbolises their annual festival whereby they worship their god of wealth, wisdom and peace.
She explained that celebrating the day with medical aid and interventions reaffirmed that their culture is not against sound health and living together in harmony.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that medical checks including blood pressure, blood glucose test and eye screening were carried out.
Erelu Foundation also distributed rice, yam flour, garri, among other foodstuffs to about 500 people.
Odedina appealed to Iraye indigenes to value their culture and traditional heritage by embracing each other and desist from alienating acts of abandoning their homes, families and tradition.
The Odole, Chief Akin Akinwande from Jagudu Compound, said that Iraye Kingdom comprises 13 compounds: Lukohun, Osin, Lanase, Jagudu, Opo-Okesoda, Opo-Iremo, Abatabudu, among others.
He said that the Iro Day is a festival and display of royalty, unity and brotherhood where food is shared and the people dine together.
The Obalaaye of Iraye Kingdom, Oba Eludayo Elugbemi, appreciated the Almighty God for witnessing the 2026 annual festival and acknowledged Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11, for his fatherly role.
Oba Elugbemi thanked the indigenes and non-indigenes of Iraye Kingdom; youths, women, men and chiefs for supporting him on the throne and allowing peaceful coexistence in the land.
He charged them to maintain love and harmony for more progress and development in Iraye and Ile-Ife at large.
Chief Asiwajun of Ife, Chief Alex Duduyemi, Otunba Iraye Kingdom, Chief Ajisafe Eluyera, Iraye Cultural Troupe and other chiefs graced the occasion. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Magdalene Ukuedojor
