Isese Day: Lagos, Ogun, Oyo declare Thursday work-free

Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo states have declared Thursday, August 20, a work-free day to commemorate Isese Day, which celebrates Yoruba culture and traditional religion. According to the Punch, the Lagos State Government made this announcement to enable residents to participate in activities marking the 2026 Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Day celebration.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Idris Aregbe, stated that the work-free day would allow Lagos residents and visitors to fully participate in the celebration, which is expected to attract more than three million traditional worshippers. Aregbe emphasized the importance of Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Day to Yoruba spirituality and cultural heritage.

Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Day is observed to celebrate Yoruba traditions, which have been preserved and passed on to younger generations, with an estimated 55 million Yoruba people globally. The celebration is also significant for Yoruba descendants living in countries such as Cuba, Brazil, and parts of the Caribbean.

Brief written by urgent.news from Punch Nigeria, Punch — 2 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.