LAGOS  – Okugbe R’Urhobo/Isoko Association, Lagos chapter at the weekend celebrated its 15-year anniversary and end of the year get together.

The event was a melting pot for sons and daughters of Okugbe R’Urhobo/Isoko, residents in Lagos, its environs, and their family members. They were all richly decked in their cultural attires, showcasing their rich culture, while they happily danced to their traditional songs.

Dr. Patrick Oghoghorie, President of the association while speaking at the event which was held at the Academy Guest House and Event Centre, Ikeja, said that the event was oragnised to celebrate and showcase the tradition, culture and origin of the R’Urhobo/Isoko people and to make people understand who they are, what they are and why they should promote their culture.

“We felt that we should celebrate ourselves and to make sure that the R’Urhobo/Isoko people in Lagos and the environs benefit culturally and generally from one of us, each of us and all of us. We want love and we want to project our culture.

“I am elated to see this day come to pass, we have been on it for 15 years and we felt that we should celebrate ourselves, to make sure that the R’Urhobo/Isoko people in Lagos and the environs benefit culturally and generally from one of us, each of us and all of us. We want love and we want to project our culture.

Oghoghorie stated that the association is doing everything possible to ensure that the language and its culture do not go into extinction.

“We want this culture and our language not to be extinct. We want it to continue, that is why we are bringing our children into it, so as to promote it among them and others so that the culture will continue.

“Our children are also here, they are always looking forward to this. We ensure that the parents bring in their children so that they too will participate.

Generally, we are bringing in our children to foster this culture and unity,” he added.

Also, Johnbull Oghenechovwe, Chairman organising committee while speaking said the association has been celebrating the earlier anniversaries in a low key, but they felt 15 years is a landmark which should be celebrated very well.

On how the association is contributing to their various hometowns, he said they often have events in their various hometowns beyond Lagos and that in the area of development the association is planning something big for their various hometowns.

“This particular celebration is a milestone for us and it’s a step forward and we have mapped out what we want to do including influencing our villages, participating in major activities in our villages and the larger R’Urhobo body and our community.

He stated that the association has changed his life and that before he was not relating to the Urhobos and that it was when he joined the association that he learned to tie the wrapper.

“I was a suit-wearing personality so this association has influenced me. If I have been influenced at my age, by the association certainly it will influence our children,” he added.