Yoruba Council Worldwide Holds 6th Annual World Omoluabi Day Festival, Preaches Unity, Peaceful Coexistence

By Kazeem Akande

The Yoruba Council Worldwide has held its 6th Annual World ‘Omoluabi’ Festival in Lagos and preached unity and peaceful coexistence for national development.

Mr Oladotun Hassan, the National President of the Council, said during the festival in Lagos on Wednesday, that the 6th edition consist diverse activities to promote Yoruba culture and values.

“This group was founded on March 18, 1999, duly registered and renowned as the apex umbrella body for all Yoruba indigenous people globally.

“The World Omoluabi Day Festival is billed for May 1, a global Yoruba national date recognised and approved by His Imperial Majesty, Arole Olofin Adimula, Ooni Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife and supported by leading royal fathers in Yoruba land.

“This is to celebrate the rich culture and fashion of the Yoruba people with the blessings of the royal fathers.

“Our focus point is to work closely with the royal fathers, stakeholders and corporate organisations are essentially meant to promote the Omoluabi culture of peace, unity and development of mankind,” he said.

According to him, the group shall unveil the Omoluabi identity card and as well as seeking permanent site, where the administration of the group will be carried out.

Hassan said that with the support of the royal father, the Ooni of Ife, the group were soliciting and appealing to monarchs to grant Yorubaland request for the construction of the Omoluabi emporium, Ile-Ife a masterpiece of glamour and beauty.

The President said that the World Annual Omoluabi Festival, being the biggest epoch making festival in Yoruba land, conspicuously aimed at cross fertilizing ideas on various issues of mutual importance and national interest.

He said that it would also focus on promoting the Omoluabi identity, ethos cultural heritage, norms and propagating Nigeria’s unity, peace, equitable justice and national development.

A traditional leader, Oba Bukola Adebowale, the Oba Ala of Akoko Land in Ondo State, while given his remarks, said that the festival was amazing as the culture, norms and values of Yorubas were being promoted.

The traditional leader said that the annual festival would further expose the Yoruba culture and values to the world.

“This is first of it’s kind where people showcase their culture, through dressing and other social norms to identify them as Yoruba sons and daughters.

“We are appealing to our people out there to join the moving train to promote our norms and enlarge the coast of our cultural heritage,” he said. (NAN)