The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has commended President Bola Tinubu for his administration’s growing commitment to recognising culture as a vital pillar of national identity, unity, and international diplomacy.
The monarch’s commendation was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday in Lagos. The statement was signed by Mr Caleb Nor, Media Assistant to the Executive Secretary of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO).
According to the statement, the Ooni made the remarks during a media conference organised by NICO to herald the forthcoming World Orisha Congress (WOOCON), an international cultural gathering.
The Ooni, who serves as the Global Patron of WOOCON, applauded President Tinubu’s administration for fostering a culturally-friendly environment and formally recognising traditional heritage and spiritual institutions across Nigeria.
“We are grateful that this administration is giving rightful recognition to our culture. Culture is the soul of a people. Without it, we have no identity,” the Ooni said.
“President Tinubu’s leadership is not only helping to reposition our cultural values on the global stage but also bringing us back to the very essence of our existence.”
Also speaking at the event, Nobel laureate and WOOCON Patron, Prof. Wole Soyinka, lauded the Federal Government for encouraging and supporting the initiative. He described it as a major step towards greatness and a significant boost for tourism revenue and cultural relevance on a global scale.
“Culture defines people and nationalities. Intellectual and spiritual engagement are key in reviving African culture,” Soyinka stated.
In his remarks, the Brazilian Consul in Lagos, Ambassador Manuel de Lacerda Santos, emphasised the deep spiritual and cultural ties between Nigeria and Brazil, particularly through their shared Yoruba heritage. He noted that the Yoruba cultural legacy continues to flourish across both nations.
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The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NICO, Mr Abiodun Ajiboye, highlighted the global cultural renaissance currently underway and the crucial role Nigeria must play in shaping this narrative. Ajiboye, who also serves as Secretary of the WOOCON Board of Trustees, described the initiative as a global cultural festival that could reposition Nigeria as a leading tourism destination.
He projected that the cultural and spiritual tourism sector could generate over $10 billion annually for the country within the next three years if properly harnessed.
“WOOCON is not just a congress. It’s a movement to reclaim and redefine African cultural consciousness and identity,” Ajiboye said.
“Nigeria’s collaboration with Brazil in culture, tradition and heritage is based on the profound historical and spiritual connections that exist between the two nations. These links are especially strong in the area of Yoruba heritage, as seen in the participation of thousands of Brazilians in major Nigerian festivals like Osun Osogbo and the Sango Festival.”
Ajiboye further revealed that Caribbean nations are also participating in the WOOCON initiative, reaffirming its global reach.
Renowned Yoruba scholar, Prof. Wande Abimbola, described the Orisha tradition as a global spiritual system deserving of preservation and reverence across continents.
