The Gold City Event Centre in Ilesa will on Tuesday, 21 October 2025, become the epicentre of history as Ijesaland gathers to honour Asiwaju Olayinka Fasuyi (AOF), the Asiwaju of Ijesaland who turns 70 on Octtober 25, 2025. But beyond the celebration of the milestone, the development of Ijesaland will also take the centre stage as a bold vision-the official launch of the Ijesa Development Fund (IDF)-under the royal seal of His Imperial Majesty, Owa Obokun Adimula, Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland, Owa Clement Adesuyi Haastrup, Ajimoko III, will be unveiled.
This was revealed in a press statement issued Friday by the Chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee of Asiwaju Olayinka Fasuyi 70th birthday celebration, Sir Folu Olamiti, a Fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, FNGE.
In the statement, Olamiti said the big day will open at 10a.m.with a symposium themed IDF Project Operations and Management with Asiwaju Fasuyi himself stepping beyond the role of celebrant to deliver a keynote lecture.
His discourse, the statement further explains, will unravel the operational framework of IDF, highlighting mechanisms for transparency, accountability, and community-driven impact. More than a lecture, it is expected to serve as a masterclass in sustainable development and a clarion call to Ijesa sons and daughters to align with a collective vision.
The high point remains the presentation of ICDA-IDF cheques to ward executives across the six Local Government Areas of Ijesaland.
“This inaugural disbursement marks a practical leap from promise to action, setting in motion a framework for funding grassroots growth initiatives,” Asiwaju Fasuyi said. “With the royal endorsement of Owa Clement Adesuyi Haastrup, Ajimoko III, and the presence of eminent community leaders, the launch is positioned as a binding social contract-one that redefines how communal wealth will be harnessed for infrastructure, education, health, and economic empowerment.”
Sir Folu Olamiti, Chairman of the Media and Publicity Sub-Committee of the Planning Committee, described the event as “a convergence of honour, vision, and action-where ideas meet implementation and leadership meets legacy.”
For many, this is more than the fifth day of a birthday fiesta; it is a generational turning point. AOF @70 will be remembered not only for its glamour but for institutionalising a community-driven development model. The celebrations will culminate in a vibrant social evening, with music by the Ijesa Juju Music Queen, Sola Testimony Band.
What makes this occasion deeply compelling is the blend of compassion and vision-the rare fusion of royalty, intellect, and community aspiration. As Ijesaland embraces this new chapter, Tuesday’s gathering is not merely a party; it is history in motion.
