CULTURE MEETS LEGACY AS IGANMODE CLUB MARKS 50th ANNIVERSARY
These our founding fathers, both dead and alive, have laid down series of unforgettable legacies for the upcoming generations and the Club will be launching a ₦500 million Multipurpose Building project in their honour.
Before I continue on the details of the 50th Anniversary, please allow me to briefly showcase Iganmode Club Ota from inception to date
Iganmode Club Ota started as a gathering of promising Ota sons, who journeyed to Lagos and some, outside the shores of Nigeria, all in search of a bright future.
They were then called "Ota Young Socialites" and were more of a football club. Aside from working hard and smart, they created time to play together at what used to be known as Race Course in Lagos in those days, which is the today's Tafawa Balewa Square.
The group later metamorphosed into "Blue Star Circle", assuming more of community responsibilities and less of sporting activities.
The community activities, the zeal and passion to drive it was the reason the name "IGANMODE CLUB OTA" was ultimately suggested and unanimously adopted by the eighteen (18) great minds, who were the brains behind the Club.
The genesis of the Club began in 1975 and by the grace of Almighty God, the Club is now celebrating her Golden Jubilee this year 2025.
Iganmode Club Ota has come a long way in mediating on issues that bother on Ota and environs, giving scholarship to the needy, donating necessary infrastructures amongst which are:
→ A block of four toilets to Ota District Council School (O.D.C), Sango-Ota in 1978;
→ A block of three classrooms to Iganmode Grammar School Ota in 1995;
→ A borehole to Ijamido City Hall in 2014;
→ Scholarship to indigent and selected students in need at various times;
→ Occasional donations to General Hospital, Onipanu-Ota;
→ The most recent being the donation of two (2) plots of land to Ota community for the construction of Vocational & Skill Acquisition Center for Ota community.
The Club has also made it a great responsibility to protect and project the Royal Institution in Ota and environs.
Educational excellence forms one of the upsides of the socio-cultural organization of note.
Iganmode Club, Ota on 5th February, 2017 hosted three notable Secondary Schools, all based in Ota, Ogun State for their outstanding performances in the 2016 edition of the Annual National Mathematics Cowbellpedia Competition. The Schools are:
- The Ambassadors College, Ota;
- Ota Total Academy , Ota; and
- Scholars Universal Secondary Schools, Ota.
The listed educational institutions produced many finalists in the junior and senior categories while The Ambassadors College produced the overall winner of the competition.
The "Iganmode Cultural Festival" being celebrated today happens to be the brainchild of Iganmode Club Ota. In 1992 during the illustrious reign of Oba Timothy Talabi Dada, the Club mooted the idea of how indigenous Ota sons and daughters would gather in a joyous celebration. The idea was welcomed by all and sundry and it was tagged "Iganmode Day", which was later named Iganmode Cultural Festival and now "ODUN ỌMỌ IGANMODE".
The inaugural festival planning committee was chaired by Late Chief Nasiru Akanbi Deinde, one of the foundation members and a Past President of the Club.
The Club was founded on 14th January 1975.
The Club has produced highly placed individuals in the society, both dead and alive, and still waxing stronger, while the Club's Royal Patron is the Ọlọta of the Paramount and Ancient Ọta Kingdom, Àwórì land.
From a humble beginning, the Club has weathered the storm to get to its present stage.
Now, kindly allow me to briefly outline the exciting lineup of activities for the 50th Anniversary of the Club, which promises to engage, inspire, and connect participants across generations.
Day 1 → Tuesday, 7th January, 2025
- Press conference at Iganmode Club hall (which is ongoing right now).
Day 2 → Sunday, 12th January, 2025
- Annual General meeting (AGM) of the Club
Day 3 → Monday, 13th January, 2025
- Royal visit to Our Royal Patron, the Olota of Ota and subsequently, a charity visits to orphanage and General Hospital.
Day 4 → Tuesday, 14th January, 2025
- Public lecture which will be held at our Club house, starting from 10.00 a.m.
- Theme/Topic: *DEVELOPING OTA INTO A METROPOLITAN CITY: THE CHALLENGES, PROSPECTS AND ADVANTAGES*
- The topic will be discussed by some brilliant minds and hopes to be an interactive session, at the end of which beneficial communique would be issued.
Day 5 → Friday, 17th January, 2025
- Jumat Thanksgiving Service at Ota Community Central Mosque.
Day 6, Saturday, 18th January, 2025
- Grand Finale at the Club house premises
Day 7 → Sunday, 19th January, 2025
- Church Thanksgiving Service at Praise Baptist Church, Sango-Ota.
As we look forward to this epic anniversary we express heartfelt gratitude to our sponsors, community leaders, members of the Planning Committee, our esteemed elders of the Club and indeed, all members of the Club, all sons and daughters of the ancient Ota land, particularly the youths. We sincerely recognise your dedication to ensure that our heritage lives on and inspires future generations.
On behalf of the entire members of Iganmode Club Ota, I warmly invite everyone to participate in this Golden Anniversary of our dear Club. Let us come together in the spirit of unity and progress and celebrate the beauty of our culture in the heart of Ota.
Thank you, and may the Anniversary be a resounding success! (Amen).
Kitigbe oOoooo.
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