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| Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola |
Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola; the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, have called for unity and integration among the Yoruba.
The three spoke in Osogbo, Osun State capital, where children from the United States, Brazil, Cuba, Argentina, Columbia, South Africa, Ghana, among others, converged to celebrate this year’s Children’s Day.
Pupils from Togo, Benin Republic and Sierra Leone were also in attendance to witness a calisthenics display.
One hundred students each from Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and Ekiti states attended the ceremony held at the Osogbo Township Stadium, on Monday. The celebration was tagged Oodua World Children’s Day.
Fifty students from Kwara and Kogi states also participated while Edo and Delta states had 25 students each at the ceremony which was witnessed by over 20 traditional rulers from outside Nigeria.
Several traditional rulers from Yoruba-speaking states graced the occasion described by the Ooni and Alaafin as unique.
Aregbesola said, “Yoruba cultural integration can only be meaningful if the children, who would carry on the culture, are properly socialised into it along with the inculcation of its underpinning values.”
In an address entitled, ‘Towards global Yoruba integration’, the governor said the celebration was aimed at promoting discipline and cooperation, cultural integration and unity among children.
Aregbesola said, “We are of the conviction that the realisation of the socio-cultural and economic integration of the Yoruba race can be greatly enhanced by imparting that vision to our children. Indeed, such a cultural renaissance agenda cannot succeed without including the children, for they are a key factor in its success.
“We can begin right from here, the cradle of the Yoruba race, to plant the seed that may germinate into something that will in time surpass the wildest dream of the brains behind the idea.--> ”Source: Punch
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