Afenifere leaders laud Adebanjo’s contributions to Yoruba, national development

Don tasks group on promotion of Yoruba research, cultural diversity

The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, yesterday, lauded the immense contributions of Ayo Adebanjo to the development of Yorubaland and the nation in general.

The group gave the commendation when a delegation of its new executive committee members paid a courtesy visit to Adebanjo in his Lekki home in Lagos State.

The visit took place after the maiden meeting of the new executive committee of the group.

The Secretary-General of Afenifere, Ademola Folarin, who led the delegation, said: “We decided to pay a prominent leader of our organisation a courtesy visit to commend him for his leadership role in Afenifere and his contributions to the development of Nigeria, going by his record as a patriot.”

The National Publicity Secretary of the body, Jare Ajayi, while corroborating the Secretary-General, stated that the executive committee decided to pay the visit now as one of the ways to show those who have and are still contributing to the progress of Afenifere, to Yorubaland and Nigeria as a whole that their efforts are appreciated.

He added that it could be heart-lifting to know that people appreciate the contributions that one has made or is making.

Adebanjo, in his response, expressed joy in receiving the delegation and prayed for Afenifere, Yorubaland and Nigeria to continue to move forward.

However, Mrs. Adeola Azeez (nee Adebanjo), who ushered in the team, said that Adebanjo’s family was very delighted to receive the delegation.”

Meanwhile, a professor of History and Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters, Olukoya Ogen, has charged Afenifere to set machinery in motion for the floating of a historical research foundation that will generously fund Yoruba history fellowships, research grants and prizes.

He gave the charge while delivering the 21st inaugural lecture of Osun State University in Osogbo.

The renowned historian and cultural enthusiast, who praised Afenifere for prioritising the socio-economic and political development of Yorubaland, however, said that the time is ripe for the broadening of Afenifere’s mandate to incorporate the promotion of historical research and cultural rejuvenation.

In his lecture titled “Reconstructing a Silenced Past: Echoes of Revisionism and Counter Hegemonic History,” the don advocated for the production of alternative, non-statist and hegemonic history that could recover suppressed and historically marginalised voices.