Lagos, Ogun Declare Thursday Public Holiday To Celebrate Isese Day

The Lagos and Ogun State governments have declared Thursday, August 20, 2026, a public holiday to mark this year’s Isese Day celebration.

The separate announcements were made by officials of both state governments on Wednesday.

In Lagos, the declaration was announced by Idris Aregbe, Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tourism, Arts and Culture.

Aregbe said Isese Day should not be seen simply as a day off work but as an important celebration of Yoruba culture, spirituality and traditional heritage.

He explained that the holiday would give residents the opportunity to take part in the activities marking the annual celebration.

‘Ìṣẹ̀ṣe is not a relic. It is a living expression of our traditions and a celebration of Yoruba spirituality as an important part of Nigeria’s cultural and religious landscape,” he said.

“When the drums sound in Lagos on Thursday, they answer drums in Havana, in Salvador, in Port of Spain. Fifty-five million people and counting. Lagos is not observing a local holiday. Lagos is standing at the centre of a global heritage.

“Whether you worship in a mosque, a church or a grove, Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Day belongs to you, because heritage has no denomination. Lagos remains the city where every heritage finds its place.”

He said the Sanwo-Olu administration had continued to support indigenous traditions and religious inclusion as part of its THEMES+ development agenda.

In Ogun State, the announcement was made by Kayode Akinmade, Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Information and Strategy.

Akinmade said Isese Day gives followers of Yoruba traditional religion an opportunity to honour their ancestors, perform traditional rites and celebrate their cultural and spiritual heritage.

“It would be recalled that August 20 was formally declared a public holiday in Ogun State in 2023, following a resolution of the Ogun State House of Assembly and the approval of Governor Dapo Abiodun,” the statement reads.

“The government said Isese Day provides an opportunity for adherents of the Yoruba traditional religion to honour their ancestors, observe traditional rites and promote the values and teachings embedded in their spiritual and cultural practices.

“It noted that the celebration also promotes a sense of community among practitioners, while providing an opportunity for the wider society to appreciate and respect the rich cultural heritage of the Yoruba people.”

Isese Day is observed every year on August 20 by followers of Yoruba traditional religion.

Celebrations typically include traditional ceremonies, cultural processions, prayers and worship involving different deities within the Yoruba spiritual system.

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