The Minister of the Interior, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, has tasked the various ethnic groups in the country to preserve their cultures for the sake of future generations.
Aregbesola, who gave the advice on Thursday in Akure during the maiden edition of Exhibition of Culture, tagged ‘Ipate Asa 2021’, said that the individual cultures were something to be proud of.
According to Aregbesola, the cultural heritage of Yorubaland may soon be lost, hence, the organiser of the programme needs to be commended for trying to bring our culture back.
“Culture has been given different meanings, but we need to know that a lot of things are inherent in what we call the culture of a group of people.
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“Our way of life, dressing, eating, character, knowledge, and education are part of our culture, it is not just the way we dance or worship our God.
“We should not be ashamed of our culture and heritage. We should hold our heads up as proud Yoruba sons and daughters,” he said.
Earlier, Mrs Boladale Akinyanmi, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Ondo State, said the programme was aimed at promoting, showcasing and celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the state and the Yoruba race.
She explained that the cultural exhibition was an idea by the present administration to renew its effort to reposition and re-energise the culture and tourism sector, as encapsulated in its eight-point agenda.
“The idea behind this programme is to take us back to what our rich cultural heritage used to be like in the olden days.
“Where we have our traditional festivals and ceremonies, historical sites and monuments, locally-made cuisines, arts and craft works, local dialects and other natural resources.
“A programme like this will help sharpen and tune the beliefs of the younger generation back to our culture and traditions, thereby making them know more about our rich cultural heritage,” she said.
Dignitaries given Awards of Excellence include: Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State; Mr Rauf Aregbesola, Minister of the Interior; Oba Francis Agbede, Olowa of Igbaraoke; as well as Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the member representating Akoko North-East/North-West of Ondo State at the House of Representatives.
Others include: Mr Joseph Akinlaja, a former member of House of Representatives, Yisa Akinbolaji, a Canada-based visual artist; while a posthumous award was given to the late Prophet Temitope Joshua, Founder, Synagogue Church of All Nations. (NAN)