The Olofin Adimula Culture and Traditions Foundation has commended former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, for pioneering the declaration of August 20 as a work-free day to commemorate Isese Day.

The foundation also applauded the governors of Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states for declaring Thursday, August 20, 2026, a work-free day to mark this year’s Isese Day celebration.

In a statement issued and signed by its Convener, Akinpelu Adesina, the foundation urged other Southwest governors to follow suit by officially recognising August 20 as a public holiday.

Adesina said Aregbesola deserved recognition as the first governor to declare a public holiday for the celebration of Yoruba traditional religion and culture during his tenure as Osun State governor.

He said Isese Day provided an opportunity for Yoruba people to celebrate their cultural heritage and traditional religion, urging Yoruba sons and daughters to embrace the occasion as part of efforts to preserve their identity.

According to him, the recognition of Isese Day across the six Southwest states would promote cultural identity, unity and respect for the region’s traditional heritage.

Adesina, who is also the Atayese Olosun of Ibadanland, said cultural preservation required deliberate efforts to reconnect younger generations with the traditions and values of their ancestors.

He appealed to Yoruba families to trace their roots and revisit and repackage the deities and cultural practices worshipped and observed by their forefathers.

The foundation’s convener also urged practitioners of traditional religion to regard it as a calling and a means of preserving cultural heritage rather than an avenue for wealth accumulation.

He said greater emphasis should be placed on the values, history and cultural significance embedded in Yoruba traditional religion.

Adesina further disclosed that he had concluded plans to revive the Orisa Oko (New Yam Festival) in Ibadan and other major Yoruba towns.

He said the revival of the festival would help preserve Yoruba agricultural traditions and strengthen cultural consciousness among the people.

He urged governments, traditional institutions, cultural organisations and individuals to support initiatives aimed at preserving Yoruba culture and ensuring that traditional festivals remained relevant to younger generations.

The foundation said the wider recognition of Isese Day would also provide an opportunity for Yoruba communities to showcase their rich cultural heritage and promote intergenerational transmission of indigenous knowledge.