The Yoruba Community in The Gambia on Friday celebrated its Odua Day Anniversary and Award Night. The ceremony which took place at the Friendship Hotel, Bakau, attracted high profile dignitaries from the government and business sectors.

According to Mr Olatunde Olusesan, chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the Yoruba Community in The Gambia, the Odua celebration is an annual commemoration of their culture and tradition.

"Tonight is a night of thanksgiving, celebration, feasting and of dancing," he said.

Commenting on their organisation's welfare provision, scholarship award and excellence award scheme, Mr Olusesan said the programme was stretched to the limit as they provided accommodation for stranded Nigerians for a period far longer than the grace period.

The support programs, he noted, include provision of valuable information on immigration laws of The Gambia and job vacancy; aimed at integrating them into the system.The chairman then acknowledged the patronage of their fathers, Professor Richard Adegbola, Dr Abraham Alabi, and Alhaji Nuru Adams, whose efforts have enabled the community  scholarships to nine Gambian students.

Chairman Olusesan further highlighted challenges facing them, including provision of funds for community activities, recurrent expenditures and projects. "We need your moral and financial support," he said.

On his part, Professor Richard Adegbola, hailed The Gambia for its "simplicity", as according to him, it is a country where ordinary people mingle freely with the leadership. This, the microbiology professor said, is unimaginable in Nigeria. 

Angela Colley, secretary of state for Tourism and Culture, expressed delight at being associated with the Yoruba Community in The Gambia. "We are all Africans," she said.

The Tourism and Culture SoS assured the Nigerians that as far as President Jammeh is concerned, Gambia is home for all its inhabitants.Dr Mike Prince Ikupolati, director general of the West African  Insurance Institute (WAII), gave a run-down of the history of the Yoruba, whose number, he said, stands at 40 million.

Dr Ikupolatin said that the Yoruba people are one, and that they must see themselves as a nation and not a tribe. He noted that the Yoruba are highly religious; a fact that is reflected in their festivities.

The festive night culminated into the awarding of distinguished personalities who are said to have been behind the community through thick and thin.

Other speakers at the occasion included Mr Baboucar Cham, managing director of City Limits Radio. Other dignitaries at the occasion were the acting Nigerian High Commissioner to The Gambia; the president of the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bai Matarr Drammeh; the Sierra Leonean High Commissioner to The Gambia, Foday Yumkella, as well as representatives from Africell, Guaranty Trust Bank, and Access Bank.