Ooni Ogunwusi, Soyinka laud Tinubu for recognizing culture as pillar of national identity
Ooni of Ife and Chairman, Board Of Trustees of The World Orisa Congress Of Nigeria (WOOCON), Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, and the Cultural Icon, Prof. Wole Soyinka have lauded President Bola Tinubu for his administration’s growing recognition of culture as a vital pillar of national identity, unity, and international diplomacy.
They gave the commendation delivered during a press conference held at the Brazilian Consulate in Lagos, and organized by the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) as part of preparations for the upcoming global cultural exchange between Nigeria and Brazil under the auspices of the World Orisha Congress (WOOCON).
In his remarks, the Ooni Ogunwusi expressed gratitude to Tinubu for creating a cultural-friendly environment and giving formal recognition to traditional heritage and spiritual institutions across the country.
Ooni Ogunwusi added “We are grateful that this administration is giving rightful recognition to our culture. Culture is the soul of a people. Without it, we have no identity. President Tinubu’s leadership is not only helping to reposition our cultural values on the global stage but bring us back to the very essence of our existence.”
Speaking earlier, the Brazilian Consular in Lagos, Ambassador Carlos José Areias Moreno Garcete, lauded the historical and spiritual connections between Brazil and Nigeria, particularly through the shared Yoruba heritage that continues to thrive across both nations.
Presenting an overview of the initiative and the WOOCON project, Otunba Biodun Ajiboye, the Executive Secretary/CEO of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) and Secretary of the WOOCON Board of Trustees (BOT), emphasized the global cultural renaissance currently taking shape and the pivotal role Nigeria must play in this unfolding narrative.
“WOOCON is not just a congress—it’s a movement to reclaim and redefine African cultural consciousness and identity. This ground-breaking initiative is going to be one of the Global Cultural Festivals that will reposition Nigeria as a major tourism destination in the world by exploring new opportunities in cultural and spiritual tourism that can generate over 10 billion USD annually for the country in the next 3 years if planned well. Nigeria’s decision to collaborate with Brazil in the area of culture, tradition and heritage is informed by the deep historical and cultural connections that exist between the two nations”.
“These cultural similarities are specifically profound and undeniable in the area of Yoruba heritage where thousands of Brazilians have over the years, visited Nigeria to participate in major cultural and religious festivals such as the Osun Oshogbo Festival, the Olojo Festival, and Sango Festival to mention a few. These interactions reaffirm the strong ancestral ties between our people and highlight the need for structured engagements that will further solidify these bonds. Interestingly, it is not just Brazil but a whole lot of other countries in the carrebeans”, Ajigboye noted.
In their goodwill messages, two cultural icons who are Patrons of WOOCON; Professor Wole Soyinka and Professor Wande Abimbola reaffirmed the importance of intellectual and spiritual engagement in reviving the African culture, speaking passionately about the Orisha tradition as a global spiritual system that must be preserved and respected across continents.
Soyinka pointedly alluded that culture defines people and nationalities, appreciating the President for encouraging and supporting the initiative.
