The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, has reaffirmed his commitment to promoting the rich cultural heritage of the Yoruba people on the global stage.
Oba Owoade made the pledge on Friday during a visit from the executive members of the ‘Ọmọ Yorùbá Àtàtà Socio-cultural Initiative’ (ỌYÀSI) at his Boroboro palace in Oyo town.
The revered monarch, while acknowledging the unique culture and traditions of the Yoruba race, emphasized the importance of showcasing these heritage assets to the world. He expressed his willingness to collaborate with ỌYÀSI in the promotion and preservation of Yoruba cultural values.
“We are specially blessed with a unique culture, and it is necessary that we showcase it to the world,” the Alaafin stated.
Earlier in the meeting, the Chairman of ỌYÀSI, Mr. Ọlawale Ajao, explained that the purpose of the visit was to inform the Alaafin about the initiative, which is focused on promoting Yoruba culture globally.
“ỌYÀSI is a registered initiative under the Corporate Affairs Commission, dedicated to advancing Yoruba culture and tradition on a global scale,” Ajao said. “One of our flagship projects is the proposed annual ‘World Head-dress Day,’ aimed at securing international recognition for the Yoruba head-dress, with the hope that UNESCO will designate a day for its global celebration.”
Ajao further highlighted that the recognition of World Head-dress Day would attract attention to the significance of head-dresses across various cultures globally, and create an annual event that will highlight their cultural value. He also noted that this initiative has the potential to boost the economy of Yorubaland and Nigeria as a whole.
“This celebration of head-dresses will not only foster cultural pride but will also create economic opportunities for the region,” Ajao added.
[…] embrace the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme to acquire practical skills that would help them become self-reliant and productive […]