MONARCH EULOGISES GOVERNOR AREGBESOLA ON YORUBA CULTURAL REBIRTH

The Elende of Eko-Ende in Odo-Otin Local Government Area of the State of Osun, Oba Abdul Rauf Olaniyan Ajiboye has promised the Governor of the State, Governor Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola in his efforts at creating awareness on the need to promote Yoruba language and culture to prevent them from going into extinction.
Oba Ajiboye gave the kudos at a sensitization programme organised by the State Government through the State Ministry of Information, Home Affairs, Tourism and Culture as part of efforts at taking cultural awareness to the grassroots.
The monarch observed that, the influence of western education is gradually eroding the importance and viability of the Yoruba language and culture which should be addressed immediately.
Speaking at the event, the guest speaker who is a renowned artist and a cultural ambassador, Chief Muraina Oyelami, the Eesa of Iragbiji, enjoined parents, teachers and all Yorubas to encourage their wards to speak the Yoruba language, use Yoruba attire and listen to Yoruba music among others as a way of preserving them.
Chief Oyelami observed that there is no language or culture which is superior to the other since both are ways of living of the people.
He therefore enjoined teachers to stop stigmatizing Yoruba language and mode of dressing as archaic or inferior to the English language.
In her address at the event, the Coordinating Director, Ministry of Information, Home Affairs, Tourism and Culture, Mrs Femi Webster-Esho particularly thanked Governor Aregbesola for his efforts at promoting Yoruba language, culture and ethics; a venture that has earned him national and international accolades as an ambassador of
Yoruba culture rebirth.
Mrs Webster-Esho stated that the cultural awareness programme was put in place to create interest in the youth on the rich cultural heritage of the Yorubas.
She said that, the programme will be taken to other parts of the State from time to time especially the grassroots.
Students of Narwarudeen Elementary School and Eko-Ende Middle and High School all in Eko-Endo were the primary targets of the enlightenment programme.
Several Yoruba cultural heritages such as music, dance, oral renditions and mode of dressing were showcased to the students and the audience.