…calls for prioritising of Cultures by the Federal Govt. of Nigeria
Today 1st of July,2025,at the maiden edition of Toyin Falola’s International Conference On Africa And The Diaspora held at the UNIOSUN Auditorium, Osogbo,His Royal Majesty, Oba Dr. Hammed Makama Oyelude, CON, The Olowu of Kuta Kingdom received the coveted UNESCO- TOFAC Oduduwa Award of Cultural Excellence for his enviable contributions to Nigeria’s educational development and Yoruba cultural upliftment .
Oba Makama Oyelude while receiving the award, at the 14th Toyin Falola International conference on Africa and the Africans in Diaspora, hosted at the Olagunsoye Oyinlola Auditorium, Osogbo Main Campus of UNIOSUN,on Tuesday, encouraged the Federal government of Nigeria to take as a priority Nigerian cultures to bring in more revenue for the country and promote her rich culture to the world.
This year 2025 edition of TOFAC conference with the theme: African Cultural Creativity and Innovations was aimed to provide a multidisciplinary platform for scholars, policymakers, and cultural enthusiasts to explore the intersections of tradition, innovation, and the future of African cultural productions.
Oba Makama Oyelude Tegbosun 111 says:
“Let the cultural reunion be used to propagate Yoruba Cultures and project the image of Nigeria Worldwide.We should take our culture to the world as part of Nation building.”
“The Federal government can use our cultures to redeem the image of Nigeria overseas and can generate more revenue for the growth and development of our economy.” “Yoruba cultures are not demonic; we must strive to promote our cultures “,Oba Oyelude emphasised.
Olowu-Kuta and Other Kabiyesis at OSBC NUJ E-Library Complex
“We are installed Culturally, we are traditional rulers for maintenance of traditions and cultures for posterity. Don’t shy away and don’t shift the goal- post in the middle of the game”.
Oba Makama says,”the media and other lovers of Cultures should fish out cultural misfits in order to bring our culture to limelight.”
Today’s Conference had in attendance the who is who in the academic and Pen Professions-Professor Nemetæ Blyden of the University of Virginia, Charlottesville,as keynote Speaker,Dr. Wale Okediran, Secretary General,Pan African Writers Association (PAWA),Accra,Ghana,and Dr. Lasisi Olagunju,Award -winning Columnist and Editor at the Nigeria Tribune Newspaper.
Others include,the Hon. Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy,Hanatu Musa Musawa,Esq duly represented as the distinguished Guest of Honour, while Hon. Abiodun Bankole Ojo, Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Osun State, was the Special Guest of Honour.
Royal Majesties at the Occasion include:
Alayeluwa Abdul Rasheed Olabomi Odunayo, the Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Prof. Adekunle Adeoye,the Eburu of Iba, among others.
To add flavour to the occasion,there was the interlude of excellent Cultural dance drama by the UNIOSUN Theatre Group while the event lasted.
UNIOSUN Theatre Group Entertaining at the Occasion
The Toyin Falola International Conference is in honour of the erudite scholar and historian, Professor Toyin Falola of the University of Texas at Austin in recognition of his exemplary global contributions to Africa and Africans in Diaspora studies.
As the life Patron of OSBC Chapel ,the Olowu-Kuta,Oba Makama Oyelude,Tegbosun 111, other traditional rulers present,and his entourage thereafter paid a visit to the OSBC NUJ E- Library Complex for inspection of the ongoing Library Complex building and to Brainstorm on the pending work on the library project.
Olowu-Kuta on Inspection Tour of OSBC NUJ E- Library
It was all praises galore for the Olowu-Kuta for being a royal majesty with a large heart upholding the Yoruba cultures and traditions and reshaping Nigeria image at home and in the diaspora.
Oba Makama was among the keenly selected Dignitaries that received the UNESCO Award.
According to the VC-UNIOSUN,Prof. Ofunayo Clement Adebooye,”all the awardees are No Nonsense Traditional Rulers ,who are not interested in Superiority battle but committed to societal growth and Cultural development.”
Others include: Alayeluwa AbdulRasheed Olabomi Aragbiji of Iragbiji,Prof. Adekunle Adeolu Okunoye,the Eburu of Iba, Hon. Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Bankole Ojo, among others.