Osun Governor, Adeleke Endorses Oriki Yoruba Festival, Pledges Full Government Support
By: Fatai Adiyeloja
Osun state governor, Asiwaju Ademola Jackson Adeleke has assured the good people of Iba in Ifelodun local government area of state of full government participation and support in subsequent editions of the celebrations of the wave-making Oriki Yoruba Festival initiated by the Eburu of Iba land.
Obviously impressed by the rich content of this year's offerings , the array of distinguished Nigerians home and from the diaspora, academics of no mean repute , fronline traditional rulers , culture connoisseurs, poetry chanters professionals and up -coming chanters paraded at the Oriki Yoruba Festival 2024, the Special Adviser to the state governor on traditional matters, Hon. Oloke Kehinde Alexander unequivocally stated that the festival keys into his excellency's agenda of cultural reawakening reinvigoration and reorientation and will henceforth be adopted as the state government 's project.
The Ebure of Iba land, Oba (Prof) Adekunle Adeogun-Okunoye Oyedeji while welcoming attendees reiterated his commitment to rejigging the fast -fading panegyrics which in the day of yore served as medium of education, entertainment, socialisation and value reorientation , drawing a line between culture and religion .
In the Royal father's words, "Iba land is a gold mine waiting to be tapped but for government to reap abundantly there is need for massive infrastructural renewal and expeditious rehabilitation of the road networks, this the monarch asserted will shore up the state of Omoluabi's internally generated revenue."
The keynote speaker at the festival, Prof. Olukoya Ogen Director UNESCO cultural programs commended Eburu's 'intervention through Oriki Yoruba festival. He enjoined all present to take advantage of the paradigm shift, the traditional rulers in particular saying time to put an end to unnecessary supremacy battle and work assiduously towards impactful administration of their communities. His imperial majesty the Ooni of Ife and Orangun Oke-Ila he told the large gathering of participants at the festival have taken up the gauntlet through intervention in the educational sector as Eburu is leaving no stone unturned we go back to our roots. He canvassed exploration of entrepreneurial dimension to our culture making it not only a medium of entertainment but sellable commodity. Gone , he says were the days Obas were always at the receiving ends time to embrace what he called monarchical philanthropism is now.
Oriki Yoruba festival in keeping with tradition kicked off with the well-attended Mountaineering program climaxed with rendition of panavyrics other side attractions and award presentation for notable figures in culture/academic arena while outstanding chanters got monetary rewards.
Indeed, the successful hosting of Oriki Yoruba Festival 2024 which attracted culture enthusiasts,tourists from all over the world to Iba land in Osun state, N8geria bears huge testimony and assurances that African culture is an exportable service yet to be fully tapped.
The Oriki Yoruba Festival 2024 was marked by superlative performances by young sons and daughter of Iba land, mostly youths, leaving no one in doubt that that no force under the sun can extinguish the enviable values of Yoruba Culture and tradition.
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