Aregbesola laments poor research on African culture by varsities

• Prophet TB Joshua bags Ipate-Asa post-humous award
• Diaspora group urges govs to use Yoruba language as tool for unity, development

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has decried the poor research on African culture and tradition by Nigerian institutions, saying there are vast opportunities in the food varieties available in the continent.

The minister, who said this in Akure during the 2021 Ipate Asa Award ceremony organised by Yoruba Heritage Group, at the weekend, reiterated the need to propagate and preserve all aspects of the African culture.

Aregbesola described culture as the totality and hallmark of human existence, saying that ways of life, food, dress, knowledge, virtues and productivity clearly define culture.

According to him, the nation’s tertiary institutions have not come up with innovations on food varieties available in Yoruba land.

He said most of the varieties stopped at what the forebears handed over to the generation.

Aregbesola, who canvassed cultural re-enactment, urged the people to change their orientation and belief about cultural values and beliefs.

He tasked Nigerians with promoting the culture so as to develop the cultural values embedded in the country.

The minister hailed the Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, for his belief in Yoruba culture, which culminated in the adoption of the Yoruba anthem as the state’s anthem.

MEANWHILE, Akeredolu, who is the Chairman of, South-West Governors’ Forum, said the award presented to Aregbesola was premised on the elevation of the Yoruba anthem by the Aregbesola’s administration in Osun State.

He also leveraged it on the promotion of the Omoluabi ethos and equal recognition of the three major religions in the state during his administration as Osun State Governor.

He charged the minister not to relent in his efforts at promoting the Yoruba cultural values, just as he assured that Ondo State would ensure that the Yoruba culture is not relegated to the background.

The award was presented to Aregbesola by Akeredolu, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Chief Gbenga Ale, at the event held at the Ondo State Cultural Centre.

Other awardees included Akeredolu, the state Chairman of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Joseph Akinlaja; Funke Alakija, Kayode Ajulo and Founder of Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), the late Prophet T.B. Joshua, who received a posthumous award.

THE European Chapter of the Oodua Progressives Union (OPU) has restated the need for use of the Yoruba language as a tool to foster unity and promote all sectors.

The Diaspora group, currently in 96 countries in the world, gave the charge during the seventh edition of its European Summit held via webinar with over 800 participants from across the world.

The summit, held for over four hours uninterruptedly, has two prominent professors as guests lecturers, Raheem Kolawole, an environmentalist from the University of Education, Winneba, Ghana and Duro Adeleke from Department of Foreign Languages, University of Ibadan, as well as many other social, economic and political analysts, in attendance.

According to Kehinde Aderemi, the media aide of the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland and the global convener of OPU, Iba Gani Adams, said the summit had been the rallying point for international discourse.

He added that all members of the organisation had, in the last seven years, benefitted immensely from the global forum, which, he said, had also helped in shaping the thoughts, ideas and values of the organisation.

The Yoruba generalissimo stated further that OPU had developed enduring blueprints for projecting the developmental agenda of the Yoruba race.

He expressed hope that such blueprints would take care of the future exigencies and challenges of the race.

Besides, Adams insisted that key decisions would be made during the summit that would also form part of the recommendations needed for the developmental agenda for all members across the 28 countries in Europe and the South-West in particular.

He, however, appealed to all members, especially in Europe, to justify their individual strengths and potentials by bringing to the fold reputable members that are ready to share in the dreams of the Diaspora organisation.

“At the end of this meeting, I believe this year’s summit will be able to proffer lasting solutions to most of the problems, especially in health, economy, education and agric sectors, among others.

“This gathering will also raise the hope of the Yoruba nation, assuring them about the prospects of a bright and rewarding future, especially for the youths,” he added.

Earlier in his opening remarks, OPU European Co-ordinator, Chief Victor Mobolaji Adewale, who is also the Akingbayi Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, expressed hope that the 2021 edition of the summit would broker peace and broaden the knowledge base of all members and participants.

Adeleke, while lamenting the ugly trend by which the Yoruba language was going, urged the South-West governors to save the language from going into extinction.

He charged the leaders, as well as other language promoters, to use the Yoruba language as a tool to foster unity and development across all sectors.