Isese Day Celebration: Lagos, Oyo declare Monday public holiday

The Lagos state government has joined Oyo State in declaring, Monday, August 21, a work-free day to commemorate the Isese Day Celebration.

In a post on X — formerly Twitter — on Saturday, Jibril Gawat, senior special assistant to Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, said the announcement was made in a statement issued by Hakeem Muri-Okunola, the state’s head of service.

He said the decision reaffirmed the governor’s “commitment to continue to provide the necessary support to traditional institutions in the State with a view to promoting our indigenous culture and tradition while preserving our heritage”.

This follows a similar declaration by the Oyo government which announced Monday a work-free day in the state to mark the festival.

Olanike Adeyemo, the secretary to the state government (SSG), disclosed that Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, has approved the holiday.

The Isese festival, marked annually on August 20, is celebrated by adherents of the Yoruba traditional religion.

In recent months, the celebration has sparked debate in Ilorin, Kwara. Traditional religion practitioners in the state were barred from celebrating the occasion after an Islamic organisation advised a priestess against doing so. The feared holding the festival could lead to violent clashes.