By OLAJIDE IDOWU

The grand finale of the annual Osun-Osogbo Festival ended on Friday with fanfair and merriments at the site of the Osun-Osogbo groove in Osogbo, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

During the festival, Osun devotees, masquerades, traditionalists and royal fathers paid homage to the festivals host, Ataoja of Osogboland, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, at the groove.

Gov. Ademola Adeleke,who spoke with newsmen on the sideline of the festival, said the state government had done so much to support the festival.

Adeleke said the government assisted in renovating and beautifying the groove to make it more attractive to tourists.

Since the inception of the Osun-Osogbo festival, they have not had the kind of support our administration gave them.

We did the beautification of the groove in less than two months and we still have more to do, he said.

Oba Olaonipekun, the Ata-Oja of Osogbo,in his remarks, thanked the governor and his entourage for gracing the event, praying that they would gather to celebrate it with him again in 2024.

The royal father also thanked all the partners and sponsors, who made the festival a success, as well as dignitaries, royal fathers and people, both from Nigeria and abroad who graced the occasion (NAN)