The festival has the potential to generate revenue for Ogun State.

Thousands of Ilaro indigenes, living outside Nigeria, are expected to return to the ancient Ogun State town next month to be part of the re-branded Oronna Celebration.

The Oronna celebration has become a unifying factor and rallying point for indigenes of Ilaro.

The Chairman, Oronna Ilaro Festival Central Planning Committee, Kayode Odunaro, at a press conference held in Abeokuta on Thursday, said the Oronna celebration will receive a full scale face lift in order to become an international tourism event. Mr. Odunaro said the Oronna festival has the potential to grow the economy of Ilaro and Ogun State as a whole.

“In this wise we want to celebrate a festival that will not only add value to our socio cultural tradition but will elevate it to the standard of a tourism event on the national tourism calendar,” Mr. Odunaro said.

The chairman highlighted the programme of event to include – a carnival, road show, egungun day, efe night, oosu/apara night, school essay competitions, community health programme, sisi Ilaro cultural pageant, royal award/dinner, and onigba aje cultural display.

He said the festival committee is currently receiving support from Ilaro indigenes in the Diaspora, particularly in United Kingdom, Ireland and United States of America.

“We look forward to their physical participation as a group in this year’s and subsequent celebrations,” Mr. Odunaro said.