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The Lagos and Oyo State governments have declared Thursday, August 20, 2026, a work-free day to allow residents to take part in activities marking the 2026 Isese Day celebration, a week-long programme honouring Yoruba spirituality and cultural heritage.
Lagos State Special Adviser on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Idris Aregbe, announced the decision in a statement on Wednesday.
Aregbe said the work-free day was intended to allow residents and visitors to fully participate in the celebration, which is expected to attract more than three million traditional worshippers.
“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,” Aregbe 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.”
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde also declared Thursday a work-free day in commemoration of Isese Day, according to a memo signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Musibau Babatunde.
According to the memo, the governor extended his felicitations to adherents of African traditional religion across Oyo State, Nigeria, and beyond, wishing them a successful and spiritually enriching celebration.
The memo noted that the work-free day will enable workers and residents to fully participate in celebrating the state’s cultural heritage and pray for peace, unity, and stability in the state in particular and the country in general.
