Thirty years of existence would be regarded as a milestone in the life of any organisation. It is even more a special milestone in the life of an organisation like the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC).

Like a very little beginnings, the OPC was formed on August 29, 1994, as a socio-cultural group to promote and protect the interest of the Yoruba race.

Three decades after, the OPC, like the biblical Mustard seed has grown to become a big Iroko tree, so that millions now seek refuge and comfort under its branches.

Expectedly, the National Coordinator of the organisation, Aare onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams and his team of dedicated members rolled out the drums to celebrate the milestone with a week-long of activities, which ended on Thursday, August 29, 2024, with a lecture on the journey of the OPC and the unveling of a book, titled: OPC @ 30: The journey so far.

Two days earlier, on Tuesday, August 27 2024, the OPC celebrated a monumental achievement. It was the official commissioning of the Oodua House, a one billion naira legacy project, situated on Ezekiel Street in Ikeja. To many, and indeed all those who have seen the building, Oodua House is more than a mere building. It represents a success story of an organisation, who agaisnt all odds has survived for 30 years!

The Oodua House, according to Iba Adams, will be used to advance the common interest of the Yoruba people as well as preserve their cultural heritage.

The OPC also used the opportunity of the celebration to put smiles on the faces of the less-privileged and the old people. It visited the Wesley School; Pacelli School and the Old Peoples home among others, where it donated food items.

The grand finale, which held at the Ten Degrees hall in Oregun, Lagos, was a roll call of who is who. South West governors, who were strongly represented, commended Iba Adams and the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) for their contributions to regional security and the promotion of Yoruba culture and traditions.

The six governors, including Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Ademola Adeleke of Osun, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, Abiodun Oyebanji of Ekiti, and Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo, expressed their appreciation during the 30th anniversary celebration of OPC in Lagos. The event was attended by dignitaries, including traditional rulers, cultural organizations, and captains of industry.

Representatives of the governors, including Saheed Olushola Balogun for Sanwo-Olu, Chief Fagbayi Olusesan for Abiodun, Chief Akeem Adesola for Makinde, and Otunba Dolamu Adeniyi for Oyebanji, all praised OPC and its leader, Iba Adams, for their efforts in safeguarding the region and preserving Yoruba heritage.

Governor Abiodun described the anniversary as symbolic and praised OPC for its role in protecting regional interests. Governor Sanwo-Olu acknowledged the group’s efforts in fostering unity and urged them to continue their good work. Governor Makinde lauded OPC as a pillar of support for his administration, while Governor Oyebanji commended the group’s contributions to security and urged further efforts.

In his address, Iba Adams, the National Coordinator of OPC, vowed that the organization would remain a leading force in Yoruba land and Nigeria. He outlined the group’s goals, which include advocating for Nigeria’s restructuring, protecting lives and property, promoting Yoruba culture, defending Yoruba interests, and engaging in cultural tourism, humanitarian services, and youth empowerment.

Iba Adams emphasized that OPC would continue to grow and protect Yoruba interests against internal and external forces. He noted the organization’s resilience through challenging times, including military eras and police brutality, and highlighted its commitment to truth, justice, and fairness.

On the topic of restructuring, Adams reiterated the need for it to address Nigeria’s structural imbalances and argued that regionalism, as reflected in the 1960/1963 constitutions, could enhance socio-economic progress and reduce federal burdens.

He expressed concern that without restructuring, Nigeria might slip further in global rankings and stressed the urgency of addressing these structural issues.

Iba Adams also paid tribute to past and present governors, traditional rulers, and other supporters of OPC, acknowledging their contributions and welcoming distinguished guests who attended the anniversary celebration.