The Iyaloja General of Oyo State who is also the South West Cordinator of Market Traders Association of Nigeria,(MATAN),Aare ‘Birin, Princess Azisat Folasade Abeo, paid a courtesy visit to His Royal Majesty, Asoludero Oba Rev’d Ademola Olugbile Folakanmi, Makuledoye II Odubade I, the Alado of Ado Awaye kingdom in his palace ,Oke -odo, Ado Awaye, Araromi LCDA, Oyo state, on Saturday 1st September,2023.
Oba Folakanmi, in his address welcomed and appreciated Iyaloja General of Oyo state for the visit. Kabiesi said further and as quoted that,”I am very happy to see you here in my palace and your visit to Ado Awaye today will remain indelible on the record book of history of our town.”Kabiesi highlighted some of the key areas of economy where Ado Awaye has comparative advantage, such as Agriculture, tourism and others.He added, Ado Awaye has the only natural suspend lake in Africa and one of the two in the whole world, which can contributed greatly to the national Gross Domestic Products if properly developed to a world class standard ,and the only cassava based sorbitol factory in Africa continent with high capacity production rate . When speaking further,Oba Folakanmi stated some of the challenges confronting Ado Awaye market traders, such as finance and deplorable condition of market places and he appealed to Iyaloja General to use her good office in providing solutions to it for the betterment of Ado Awaye market traders .His Royal Majesty also used the avenue to breif Iyaloja General on the importance of Iyake festival to the economic growth of the state and it’s advantages to the market traders. Therefore,he requested for necessary support as this year’s edition is fast approaching.
The Iyaloja General of Oyo state and Southwest Cordinator of Market Traders Association of Nigeria,Aare ‘Birin, Princess Azisat Folasade Abeo, when she was reacting, thanked His Royal Majesty Asoludero Oba Rev’d Ademola Olugbile Folakanmi, Makuledoye II Odubade I, for receiving her with an open hands in his palace despite her short time notice of visitation and she appreciated him and other Kings in Oke -Ogun, for the royal support she enjoyed from them during her contest to the seat of Iyaloja General of Oyo state.Omooba ‘Birin Folasade Abeo declared that she was going round the towns and cities across the state to create awareness and awake the consciousness of our market traders on the importance of Market Traders Association of Nigeria,(MATAN) and the the position of the Federal Government of Nigeria on the Association.Speaking further, the Iyaloja General of Oyo state described MATAN as the only recognized umbrella association for all men and women traders in Nigeria.Accordig to her, the President Bola Hammed Tinuade led Administration has considered the association as the only veritable channel to propagate Federal Government’s economic transformation agenda to all Nigerian market traders.She said,many of the programs and policies that were of immense benefits to our market traders across the states of the federation were underway and she promised to make sure that Ado Awaye market traders would not be left out when the whole things commences.
The Oyo born princess, in her comment on Iyake festival said that, Ado-Awaye was her second home as handed down by history, because the Ado Awaye progenitor,Obakoyi, who was the ground son of Alaafin Oluaso hailed from Oyo town.So,she would always be part of any developmental program associated with Ado Awaye township now and in future, Iyake festival inclusive. In attestation to this, she announced the donation of 5 pepper ground machines, 2 hairdresser equipments, for women empowerment program on festival day slated for 14-16 November, 2023, and a power generator set for palace use with monthly stipend for fueling.
Other personalities in her company were: Madam Toyin amao, state secretary,MATAN, Madam Doyin Raaji,Oyo North Senatorial District,MATAN Cordinator,Oyo Central Cordinator, Chairman,Oyo State state Youth Council, among others.