By Ibidapo Olowolayemo, Ibadan
Wednesday June 11, 2025
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Oyo State Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Aderogba Akanbi, has bemoaned the alleged gradual intrusion of foreign culture into “our much-cherished and respected Yoruba identity, which has placed us on a high pedestal the world over.”
Speaking on the heels of a certain video of a near-nude appearance of a woman in her prime age entertaining guests (now viral) during the recent Ojude Oba annual festival in ijebu Ode, Ogun State, the director, in a release he signed and made available to journalists in Ibadan on Wednesday, expressly counseled against “such acculturation,” as he warned that “we should not mortgage our values and norms on the altar of modernization.”
“Ojude Oba tells our stories of social cohesion and cultural identity, as it accentuates our mode of dressing, horse display, and cultural ensemble, which is central to the festival as well as cultured people of proud origin that preserve traditional institutions. “Therefore, anything that will taint that identity should be regarded as a ‘dark spot’ on a colorful attire and be condemned forthwith.
“Ojude Oba transcends an annual routine. It showcases our heritage, values, and norms to the world, and the legacy should remain unblemished.
“Nudity or obscene dressing during festivals are alien to Yoruba culture of South-West Nigeria and should not be imported into our land.
“We should appreciate our cultural relativism,” he said.
* NOA commends govt’s proactive action on flood control
In another development, the NOA director, lauded the state government, under the leadership of Governor Oluseyi Makinde, for its proactive steps in dredging flood-prone rivers/streams in the state, aligning with NIMET’s flood predictions before the rainy season.
Aderogba, who gave the commendation while featuring on a radio public affairs program, ‘Meto Mofin,’ in Ibadan on Tuesday, also enjoined citizens to steer clear of environmental hazards that could lead to flooding, such as inordinate refuse to dump in the rivers during the rain.
He added that flood-induced erosion in the state was fast becoming a forgotten trend due to community-specific channel projects embarked on by the state governor to avert overflowing.
He, therefore, appealed to “citizens too to play their part in avoiding flooding during this rainy season.”
While answering questions on jungle justice, Aderogba reiterated that the country was no more in a Hobbesian state “when might be right.”
He stated that fair hearing was key “in a well-formed, lawful society like ours. “Hence, misinformation that can precipitate unlawful mob mentality must be discouraged.
“Say no to lawlessness and impunity. Let the law take its course.”
The Oyo NOA director also expressed his delight over the “visible attitudinal reorientation, which has become manifest as a result of regular sensitization from the agency,” which he said was more qualitative than quantitative.
He cited the reduction in tanker fuel crashes as one of the major deliverables by the agency in recent times. He also alluded to the gains of fuel subsidy removal and reduction in prices of some staple foodstuffs as gains to the citizens and tasked them to be more patient with the government to witness a better time to come.
He finally called on the audience to avail themselves of the opportunity of partaking in (the cash-spinning democracy quiz competition, which has already commenced online at the instance of the National Orientation Agency” and enjoined them to click on the agency’s website to be part of the lucky winners.
“Be a part of ‘Democracy Cash Quiz’ and celebrate democracy day with NOA by clicking on Democracy Dash on the NOA website noa.govt.ng to join the fun,” he urged.
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