Makinde receives UNESCO certificate for Sango Festival
By Adejayan Gbenga –
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has received the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Certificate for the Sango Festival, following its inclusion on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The certificate was formally presented by the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, on Saturday, August 16, 2025, during the grand finale of the World Sango Festival in Oyo town.
Oyo State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun, who received the certificate on behalf of the state government, later handed it over to Governor Makinde at the State Executive Council meeting on Tuesday, August 19.
Olatubosun praised the governor for his consistent support of cultural and tourism initiatives, noting that the recognition was the result of deliberate investments that have elevated the Sango Festival into an international event. He recalled that since the UNESCO inscription of December 5, 2023, Oyo had successfully hosted the maiden World Sango Festival in 2024 and a bigger edition in 2025, which attracted global participation and foreign envoys.
Governor Makinde, in response, commended the commissioner and his team for their efforts, stressing that the recognition reflected the cultural strength of Oyo State and Nigeria at large.
