As part of the activities to commemorate the 2024 Isese Day celebration in Lagos, Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has declared Tuesday, August 20, as a work-free day for all public servants in the state. The declaration is aimed at allowing traditional worshippers to observe the annual celebration with the recognition and respect it deserves.
In a circular issued by the Lagos State Head of Service, Mr. Bode Agoro, with Reference No: CIR/HOS/124/Vol.1/66, the governor’s approval was officially communicated. The circular emphasized the administration’s commitment to promoting the rich cultural heritage of the Yoruba people and supporting traditional institutions in the state.
“It is hereby notified for general information that this year’s Isese Day celebration will hold on Tuesday, 20th August 2024,” the circular reads. “In line with our commitment to provide necessary support to traditional institutions and promote indigenous traditions by preserving our cultural heritage, Mr. Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has approved that Tuesday, 20th August, 2024, be declared a work-free day for public servants in the state.”
The circular further states that normal work activities in public offices, including courts, will resume on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. All accounting officers across ministries, departments, and agencies have been urged to ensure widespread publicity of the directive within their respective offices.
Isese Day, rooted in the Yoruba tradition, celebrates the rich spiritual and religious practices of the Yoruba people. The Isese religion encompasses the traditional beliefs and practices of the Yoruba people, whose homeland spans present-day southwestern Nigeria, including Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, and Kwara states, as well as parts of Kogi State and neighboring regions in Benin and Togo.
The Lagos State Government’s recognition of Isese Day underscores its commitment to inclusivity and the preservation of cultural diversity, ensuring that the cultural heritage of the Yoruba people continues to thrive in a modern and evolving society.
