The Lagos State Government has announced a 10-day burial programme for the late Akran of Badagry, Aholu Menu-Toyi I, who died on January 12. The ceremonies, scheduled from April 23 to May 6, were disclosed by Mrs Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin, Secretary to the Lagos State Government and Chairman of the Central Planning Committee, during a media briefing in Badagry on Saturday. She stated the schedule was deliberately delayed to align with traditional rites and existing state programmes. Events begin April 23 with gun salutes, Iwure prayers and Ajogan parades across Badagry's eight quarters, including prayers at the Akran Palace.
A novelty football match in honour of the late monarch will take place on April 24 at Badagry Grammar School. Community service, a medical outreach and sanitation activities are set for April 25. Days four to six will feature homage visits by associations, businesses and artisans to the Akran Palace. On April 29, project sites including the Badagry Central Palace and Menu-Toyi I Square will be inspected, alongside a Christian Association of Nigeria procession. April 30 includes a youth programme, Fitila Night procession and tribute night at the palace.
May 1 features a Jumat service at the Central Mosque and the Akran Legacy Festival at Marina. An interdenominational service will hold on May 2 at Freeman Memorial Methodist Cathedral, followed by the foundation-laying for Aholu Menu-Toyi I Park and a grand reception at Badagry Grammar School. May 3 includes a thanksgiving service at the cathedral and a reception at the Methodist Mission House. The rites conclude on May 6 with Zangbeto processions, Hungan drumming and Oro traditional rites across Badagry. Mr Bonu Solomon, representing Badagry Constituency I, described the Akran Legacy Festival as a three-day trade and entertainment hub that will boost the local economy. Chief Adeyinka Amosu, Chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee, said state involvement ends months of uncertainty over the burial arrangements.
The state waited nearly four months to announce burial rites for a monarch who died in January, yet insists the delay was deliberate to respect tradition. While the 10-day programme includes a foundation-laying for a park named after him, the late Akran's actual contributions to youth development are only referenced by a single lawmaker. The economic boost promised from the festival hinges on a three-day event, but no figures or plans are given to show how this will translate to lasting gain for Badagry residents. The celebration of legacy arrives long after the death, raising questions about why planning took so long despite the known cultural significance.
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