Ooni Celebrates 2026 Moremi Festival As Yeye Moremi Oodua Empowers 70 Youths With Digital Skills

The Co-Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN), Arole Oodua Olofin Adimula and the Natural Head of the Oduduwa race worldwide, the Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, has celebrated the 2026 edition of the Edi Moremi Festival in Ile-Ife, Osun State, with a series of empowerment initiatives targeting youths, women and other members of the community.

 

This was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the Senior Media Officer, Ooni’s Palace, Sodiq Lawal, on behalf of the Director of Media and Public Affairs, Ooni’s Palace, Otunba Moses Olafare.

The two-day celebration, held on Saturday, November 7, and Sunday, November 8, featured youth empowerment through artificial intelligence (AI) and digital skills training, free medical services for over 220 beneficiaries, financial grants for women, a cultural festival, a torchlight procession and the Queen Moremi Ajasoro Beauty Pageant.

The festival, organised under the auspices of the Ooni of Ife, was championed by the former First Lady of Ogun State and Yeye Moremi Oodua, Her Excellency, Mrs Olufunso Amosun, as part of efforts to preserve the legacy of the legendary Queen Moremi Ajasoro while promoting human capital development and community advancement.

A major highlight of the celebration was the graduation and certificate presentation to 70 youths from the first cohort of the YMO AI and Digital Skills Training Hub, who successfully completed a six-week intensive training programme.

The beneficiaries received their certificates at a ceremony held at the Sir Adebutu Keshington Building within the palace of the Ooni of Ife.

Speaking at the presentation, Amosun explained that the initiative was inspired by the courage, sacrifice and selflessness of Queen Moremi Ajasoro, whose historic bravery and determination liberated the people of Ile-Ife from their adversaries.

She said the digital training hub was established to extend the legacy of liberation by equipping young people with relevant technological competencies, including artificial intelligence and other digital skills, to improve their employability, entrepreneurship opportunities and financial independence.

“In this day and age, where everything has gone digital and there is technological advancement, we have taken it upon ourselves to liberate the upcoming generation by empowering them with digital skills and artificial intelligence to enable them to get better jobs,” she said.

Amosun disclosed that approximately 150 participants initially enrolled in the six-week programme, but only 70 qualified for graduation after meeting the instructors’ attendance, commitment and performance requirements.

She explained that the decision to restrict certification to deserving participants was part of the centre’s commitment to maintaining high standards and producing competent individuals who could serve as ambassadors of the initiative globally.

According to her, participants who did not meet the required standards would be given another opportunity through a two-week refresher programme before undergoing another assessment.

She encouraged young people to take advantage of the free training opportunities, stressing that the facility remained open to individuals willing to acquire relevant digital competencies and position themselves for opportunities in the evolving global economy.

Beyond youth empowerment, the celebration also featured a free medical outreach organised by Yeye Moremi Oodua in collaboration with the Eye Foundation, which benefited more than 220 people, including women from the palace and the wider Ile-Ife community.

The medical intervention provided free eye examinations and screening, prescription eyeglasses for beneficiaries who required them, as well as glaucoma surgeries for eligible patients, with all services provided at no cost to the beneficiaries.

In another demonstration of her commitment to women’s economic advancement, Amosun also empowered women in Ile-Ife with financial grants under the women’s empowerment initiative, aimed at supporting their businesses, strengthening their livelihoods and promoting economic independence.

The initiative formed part of the broader vision of the 2026 Moremi Festival, which adopted the theme, “Honouring the Past, Empowering the Future.”

The festival also featured the annual Queen Moremi Ajasoro Beauty Pageant, an initiative of the Queen Moremi Ajasoro Global Ambassador, Her Majesty, Queen Aderonke Ogunwusi, which has been sustained for 11 years as part of efforts to promote the historical significance and enduring values of the legendary heroine.

Amosun, who has consistently supported the pageant over the years, commended the organisers for sustaining the initiative and providing a platform for celebrating the courage, intelligence and selflessness associated with Queen Moremi Ajasoro.

Speaking at the event, Queen Moremi Ajasoro Global Ambassador, Her Majesty, Queen Aderonke Ogunwusi, said the initiative was designed to give the celebration of Queen Moremi a broader social impact beyond cultural remembrance by translating her values into practical programmes that benefit society.

She expressed appreciation to the Ooni of Ife for providing the royal platform and support for activities promoting the legacy of Queen Moremi Ajasoro, while also commending Yeye Moremi Oodua for her consistent commitment to the initiative.

Queen Aderonke urged the graduating trainees to put their newly acquired digital skills into productive use, noting that technology had become a major driver of employment, innovation and economic development across the world.

She disclosed that some beneficiaries had already secured employment opportunities following their participation in the programme, including some who had been personally employed by her.

She added that equipping young people with relevant digital skills would help address unemployment, stimulate job creation and contribute to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Other activities during the two-day celebration included the traditional Edi Moremi Festival, the flag-off of the free eye camp and health screening, a torchlight procession and the Queen Moremi Ajasoro Beauty Pageant, which brought together participants and guests to celebrate the cultural heritage of Ile-Ife.