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OPU set to promotåe Yåçoruba language, culture globally

By Eniola Daniel
10 February 2015   |   6:10 pm
THE Oodua Peoples Union (OPU) has reiterated the need to promote and educate the youths on the cultural values of the Yoruba people, saying that the move will prevent the cherished culture of the Yorubas from going into extinction.    Chief Ganiyu Adams, leader of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and OPU made this call at…

THE Oodua Peoples Union (OPU) has reiterated the need to promote and educate the youths on the cultural values of the Yoruba people, saying that the move will prevent the cherished culture of the Yorubas from going into extinction.

   Chief Ganiyu Adams, leader of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and OPU made this call at the maiden edition of the group’s leadership training held recently at Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

   According to him, the thought of mobilizing Yoruba people for the elevation of its cultural values despite various socio-cultural, economic and political groups was a burning issue in his mind. 

   ‘’From the brain wave, I started discussing with my aides; I told them how burning the idea was on my mind, that I would like to set up an organization that would unite our people. I thought of a name for the organization, then I suggested the name ‘Oodua Peoples Union (OPU)’, and it was adopted by my aides.’’

   According to him, ‘’Yoruba diaspora accounts for one of the biggest presence of African outside the continent. However, despite the enormous inherent potentials and benefits that can be derived and translated to development on the continent in comparative terms, it is sad that Africa, in particular, Yorubaland is faced with different challenges and her potentials for greatness is yet to be fully explored, tapped and utilized.”

   Ganiyu urged the group to draw inspiration from the impactful contributions of other Diaspora to their homelands and countries. ‘’India made largely of Indus and other ethnic and religious groups continue to impact positively on growing international perception in India globally,” he said.

  He pledged that a programme  would be organized by the group every year. ‘’The next one will take place in Ile-Ife; we want to correct the impression that OPC is a social club. OPU started in Benin Republic and it’s a global Yoruba forum, while OPC operates only in Nigeria. OPC programme will not clash with OPU agenda, we will have forum like human right watch and other means to checkmate indecent behaviour in the group and in Yoruba generally.”

   Sally Mbanefo, Director General of Tourism in her remark, praised the leader of the group, Gani Adams, for his contributions to ensure that Yoruba culture did not go into extinction.

   Sally said the aim of the government is to continue to support any group in Diaspora that promotes the Nigerian culture. 

 

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