The Alaafin of Oyo and Paramount Ruler of the Oyo Kingdom, His Imperial Majesty Oba Engr. Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, has approved a slight modification to this year’s Oro Festival to accommodate Junior Secondary School 3 students sitting for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
In a release signed by the director of media and publicity to the Alaafin, Bode Durojaiye, the palace said the adjustment became necessary because the examination period coincides with the dates of the festival.
According to the statement, the Oro Festival will be held from Thursday, July 23, to Tuesday, July 29, 2026.
However, the restriction of movement for females on the last day of the festival, July 29, has been shifted to 5:00pm to enable affected pupils to write the national examination.
Announcing the new arrangement, the Baale of Jabata, Pa Chief Orowale Ajani, said the decision was taken in the interest of education and to ensure that no student was disadvantaged.
The BECE is administered by Oyo State’s Ministry of Education and is required for students transiting from junior to senior secondary school.
The palace urged residents of the Oyo Kingdom to comply with the adjusted schedule and cooperate with traditional authorities to ensure a peaceful observance of the festival.
The BECE is administered by state ministries of education and, in some states, by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) or the National Examinations Council (NECO).
Packaged by Temitayo Afolabi
