Alaafin adjusts Oro festival in Oyo over BECE exams

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, 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 statement signed by the monarch’s Director of Media and Publicity, 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 hold from Thursday, July 23, to Wednesday, July 29, 2026.

However, the restriction of movement for females on the last day of the festival, July 29, has been shifted to 5:00 p.m. to enable affected pupils to write the national examination.

Announcing the new arrangement, the Baale of Jabata, Chief Orowale Ajani, said the decision was taken in the interest of education and to ensure that no student is disadvantaged.

The BECE is administered by the Oyo State Ministry of Education and is required for students transitioning from junior to senior secondary school.

The Palace, however, 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.