By Dada Ahmed in Magongo.
The National President of Magongo Development Association, MDA,Prince Jordan Alaba Akpata, reading his address at the occasion.
Magongo, a vibrant town in Ogori/Magongo Local Government Area of Kogi State, came alive for seven exhilarating days as it hosted the 2025 edition of the Owiya Osese Festival, a cherished cultural rite that marks the transition of maidens into womanhood. Organized by the Magongo Development Association (MDA), the festival blended rich traditions with pressing calls for community development.
The festival climaxed on Friday with a passionate appeal from the MDA National President, Prince Jordan Akaba Akpata, who called on the Kogi State Government to revive and operationalize long deplorable water projects in the community.
Akpata didn’t stop there. He praised three distinguished sons of Magongo who, out of sheer patriotism, have been funding the salaries of ten community-engaged teachers, a commitment that costs approximately N500,000 monthly. While commending their sacrifice, he urged the government to step in by deploying qualified teachers to Magongo Community Secondary School to ensure educational sustainability.
The MDA President also raised concerns over a lingering boundary dispute between Ogori/Magongo and Okene Local Government Areas.
He appealed to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo to intervene and resolve the issue through meaningful dialogue with stakeholders from both sides.
While applauding the recent patching of the once-impassable Ageva-Magongo road, Akpata drew the attention of the state government to the dilapidated internal roads that continue to hinder movement and economic activity within the town.
“The current state of the roads makes life difficult for residents and discouraging for visitors. Timely government intervention is vital,” he stressed.
In a move to encourage community service and uphold tradition, Akpata announced the introduction of MDA Merit Awards to recognize individuals who have made outstanding moral, financial, and strategic contributions to Magongo’s development.
Delivering the keynote address, the Chairman of the occasion and Professor Olowu Daudu Malachy, described the Owiya Osese Festival as a turning point in the lives of the maidens. “It marks the end of their childhood and the beginning of their adolescent aspirations,” he said.
He charged parents and the community to curb rising negative behaviors among youths, reinforce traditional values, and invest in both formal and vocational education.
The National President of the Magongo Development Association (MDA), Prince Jordan Akpata, couldn’t resist the infectious rhythm as he jumped to his feet and joined the carnival dance, swaying with energy and pride like a true cultural ambassador.
The National President of Magongo Development Association, MDA,Prince Jordan Akpata, responding to a rhythm in a dance during carnival
“Discipline and morality must return to our homes,” he urged, adding that public officials must lead by example.
To the newly initiated girls, Professor Malachy delivered a message of hope and resilience.
“Remain steadfast in the values instilled in you. In times of difficulty, stay true to yourselves and to Magongo. “Greatness is born from love, service, and dedication to one’s community,”he encouraged.
The 2025 Owiya Osese Festival was a spectacle of tradition, attended by royal fathers, distinguished sons and daughters of Magongo, cultural enthusiasts, and guests from across Nigeria.
It featured a colourful cultural parade, special dances by parents of the newly initiated girls (Iwiya), presentation of the MDA Merit Awards, and a symbolic mountaineering expedition to Ogegegosi Mountain.
For over a century, Owiya Osese festival has been more than a cultural celebration, it is a deeply rooted rite of passage, promoting purity, moral integrity, and female virtue.
In Magongo, the past and future walk hand-in-hand, and this year’s festival proved once again that culture, when fused with community spirit and development, is a force that can transform lives.
