The Federal Government, through the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), has unveiled plans to establish the World Orisha Congress (WOOCON), an international cultural initiative aimed at promoting spiritual tourism and enhancing Nigeria’s economic prospects.
Speaking during a press briefing held in Lagos on Monday, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NICO, Chief Abiodun Ajiboye, said the congress would serve as a global convergence point for devotees of Orisha traditions.
Ajiboye explained that the initiative draws inspiration from successful spiritual outreach programmes in Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Egypt, and India nations that have harnessed cultural and ancestral heritage as powerful tools for development and tourism.
“This groundbreaking initiative will become one of the world’s leading cultural festivals and reposition Nigeria as a key tourism destination globally,” Ajiboye stated.
He added that with proper planning, the congress could generate over $10 billion annually through spiritual and cultural tourism within the next three years.
Ajiboye also disclosed that Nigeria would partner with Brazil to address the misrepresentation of Yoruba traditional religion by some individuals in the South American country.
In a show of royal support, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, who also serves on the Board of Trustees of WOOCON, lauded the Federal Government’s recognition of the Yoruba Orisha tradition. He described Orisha as the “essence of living,” representing elemental forces of nature without which human survival is impossible.
“Our culture, religion, and traditions are all rooted in nature,” the Ooni said. “Orisha are conscious forces of energy found in water, fire, metals, and herbs. It is unfortunate that over time, misconceptions and negative narratives have demonised our heritage.”
Also speaking, the Consul-General of Brazil in Nigeria, Mr Manuel de Lacerda Santos, highlighted the deep Afro-Brazilian cultural ties as the foundation for meaningful partnership with Nigeria. He noted that in Brazil, Orishas are revered as ancestral spirits governing natural elements and human well-being.
“These deities are celebrated through vibrant rituals involving music, drumming, dance, offerings, and traditional attire. Brazil’s embrace of Orisha culture is not only a celebration of diversity, but also a tribute to the enduring legacy of African civilisation,” he said.
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, who was present at the unveiling as a Global Patron of WOOCON, praised NICO’s initiative, affirming that the Orisha tradition predates the modern nation-state.
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“Orisha is not a Nigerian phenomenon. It was born in Yoruba land, long before Nigeria came into existence. Let us honour it on that foundation,” Soyinka remarked.
He also revealed plans for the Heritage Voyage of Return, an annual spiritual pilgrimage from Brazil to Nigeria, intended to foster cultural reconnection.
In his remarks, Mr Ajoyemi Osunleye, the International Consultant for WOOCON, described the initiative as a spiritual awakening and cultural homecoming.
“We are launching a movement that reconnects the wisdom of our ancestors with a world in search of meaning, identity, and divine connection. Nations across the globe are using cultural heritage to drive economic revival Nigeria must do the same,” he said.
Osunleye noted that Orisha traditions rooted in Nigeria have endured across the African diaspora, from Brazil to Cuba, Haiti, Trinidad, and the United States. WOOCON, he said, will unite these spiritual communities in a global circle of education, healing, and cultural celebration.
“The world must come to see that Africa is not a land of darkness, but a radiant source of divine knowledge, light, and unmatched spiritual depth,” he concluded.
