Ota Art Fair 2018

A two days Art exhibition was held between Thursday 22nd and Friday 23rd March 2018. This Art showpiece being one of its kind was organized by a group of artists including Mr Azeem Olayemi Bello who happened to be the head, department of Fine Art at the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Abeokuta and other prominent artists who came under the umbrella of Ota Art Fair group.

 Venue was the Ogun State Recreation Centre along Ilo-Awela road. The aim is to bring forth talents, promote art within and around Ota, also to further extend art appreciation and patronage to the town and its environs.

The opening ceremony witnessed various activities with an array of artworks on display by various artists. About 30 artists participated in different genres of art; painting, photography, sculpture, performance art and mixed media.

Students from Iganmode Grammar School and other art enthusiasts came in their numbers to grace the occasion and to learn from the Guest Speaker of the day was the person of Engr. Yemisi Shyllon, a mega art collector and enthusiast who spoke to the audience on Challenges and Solutions to the Development of Tourism in Nigeria.

Gracing the occasion was the Royal Father of the day in no other person than His Royal Majesty Oba Dr. Adeyemi Abudukabir Obalanlege, the Olota of Ota. The Olota urged everyone to embrace the promotion of our culture as this will help promote tourism and further boost the revenue and economy of the state. He enjoined everyone to join hands in the upliftment of Ota. Kabiyesi equally showed his appreciation to the organizers for putting up such a great event.

Several cultural display was held to entertain guests including performance from the masquerade 'egungun'.

This being the maiden edition of Ota Art Fair, the organizers say it is scheduled to be an annual event and subsequent ones promise to be bigger and better.

Below are pictures from the fair...   
Photo Credit: Cynthia Njoku (CyAN Concepts)
                                             

some artworks on display

 Ota 'n' Environs Publisher Abiodun Ogundele given a tour round the fair

 Students of Iganmode Grammar School admiring artworks on display

 Students fascinated by the beautiful array of works

 Olota of Ota and the Guest Speaker of the day flanked by the organizing team

 More artworks on display

 Rapt attention to the Guest Speaker

 Engr. Yemisi Shyllon giving his speech

 The Egungun (masquerade) Performance

 A gift presented to the Olota of Ota by the organizers

 Students of Iganmode with the organizers of the fair

Cross section of the organizing team

House of Representatives Aspirant, Asiwaju Abayomi Oke Releases Profile

Abayomi Isola Oke was born on November 28th 1985 in Ogun State, Nigeria. He attended primary and Secondary schools in Ota before proceeding to Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and Allover Central Polytechnic, Ota for his Ordinary National Diploma and Higher National Diploma respectively.

As a student, he was involved with campus politics in his drive to see that student welfare and interests are protected. He was the General Secretary of the Student Union Government of Osun State Polytechnic during his OND programme as well as the pioneer president of NABAMS of Allover Central Polytechnic. 

As part of his duty during the mandatory NYSC, he was a subject teacher at Isunjaba Comprehensive High School, Imo State as well as the staff adviser of the school press club. He coordinated Community Development Service in Environmental Sanitation in Isu Local Government. He served as the General Secretary of Nigerian Christian Corpers' Fellowship in his LG. 

A former banker, he worked with the then BankPHB (Now Keystone Bank) where he was responsible for sensitive and important functions like cheque printing, cheque maintenance as well as the helpdesk of the operational hub of the bank. His commitment on the job attracted award of the Best Staff of the month and also nominations in other categories.

After the stint with banking, Oke set up his company, Novent concept which is an agency in the business of film making, model training, events planning, shows promotion etc.

Novent has over the years organized trainings for those in the world of media and entertainment in Ota and environs, organized the first ever Fashion show in Ota that is also the biggest in Ogun State; talent, artists, comedians and models promotion etc.

Recently, Novent Concept organized and successfully held the Life is Eazi concert in Ota where Mr Eazi, Small Doctor amongst other artists performed to a sold out crowd, it was the first in Ota.

An actor, filmmaker, TV presenter, compere, public speaker, model trainer, Asiwaju (as he is popularly called) is also the founder of De CHAMPS, a gathering of youths from every part of the country who are mentored into becoming good ambassadors of this country.

The annual Youth Leaders Forum in Sango Ota organized by De CHAMPS brings together youths from diverse cultures and background to discuss and deliberate on issues facing the youths and how to succeed. The event which is in its 4th year has attracted youths who have gone on to become a success in their various fields.

Oke is also a member of Young Africa Leaders Initiative (YALI) and has spoken at over 50 events in the last 12 months about talents promotion, skill development, leadership and communication skill.

He was instrumental to bringing Google to Ota to train youths on digital skills and the ever changing and dynamic world of the social media management and use.

A recipient of various awards right from his school days to his former place of work as well as his church where he is a dedicated worker and head of the media and publicity arm.

 

Asiwaju is married to Olamide Oke and they are blessed with wonderful children.

 

Abayomi Oke (Asiwaju) to run under Accord Party

Abayomi Oke popularly called  Asiwaju on Friday 16th March 2018 finally declared his intention to run for House of Representatives under the umbrella of the Accord Party at a press conference held at Celebration Hall, Ijoko Rd. Ota, Ogun State. The press conference was well attended by representatives of several media houses.

Accord Party members were lead to press conference by the Assistant State Secretary; Comrade Opakunle Oyetunji, the Senatorial Chairman; Elder Ola Olugbenga, Local Government Chairman; Hon. Oluade Ayotunde and other party faithfuls.

After taking the opening prayer and the National Anthem Asiwaju delved into the declaration of his intentions. In his words

“I am Abayomi Oke but I prefer to be called Asiwaju, on February 5^th 2018 we intimated the people of Ado-Odo Ota Federal Constituency of our ambition to represent them in the National Assembly. The message was streamed on all our social media platforms, the feedback we got was people asking the platform on which we intend to run to which we responded that ‘getting to know the candidate is our primary aim at the moment’.

On Tuesday 13^th 2018 the Asiwaju campaign team led by the aspirant; Asiwaju Abayomi Oke, was at the party secretariat to submit our letter of intent and to intimate the party leadership of our ambition. We were well received, the party leadership and our team discussed at length and we are glad to announce ‘we are in One Accord’. We will be contesting the next House of Representatives election in 2019 on the platform of Accord Party.

We remain resolute and audacious and we have a party that shares our audacity and resolution to save our people. On this note I will like to say God bless Ado-Odo Ota Federal Constituency, God bless Ogun State, God bless Nigeria and God bless our great party ACCORD.”

The aspirant after his declaration fielded questions from various pressmen present to which he favorably provided answers to.

The Accord Party Senatorial Chairman who spoke on behalf of other executives stated his happiness and total support for Asiwaju and enjoined others to join in the party and also support the aspirant. Prayers were said in earnest for the aspirant and an appeal to support him all the way.

With this declaration done the Asiwaju Campaign Team tagged ‘ACT 2019’ stated their readiness to begin serious engagement of the entire people of Ado-Odo/Ota federal constituency.