The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka have praised President Bola Tinubu for recognising culture as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s identity, unity, and diplomatic relevance.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, May 13 in Lagos, the traditional ruler’s remarks were conveyed by Mr Caleb Nor, Media Assistant to the Executive Secretary of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO).
Oba Ogunwusi, speaking during a media briefing ahead of the World Orisha Congress (WOOCON), said Tinubu’s administration is creating space for traditional heritage and spiritual institutions to thrive.
“We are grateful that this administration is giving rightful recognition to our culture,” the monarch said. “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.”
Nobel laureate and WOOCON patron, Prof. Wole Soyinka, also commended Tinubu for supporting the initiative, saying it could boost tourism and elevate Africa’s place in global cultural conversations.
“Culture defined people and nationalities,” Soyinka said. “Intellectual and spiritual engagement were important in reviving the African culture.”
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Ambassador Manuel de Lacerda Santos, Brazil’s Consular in Lagos, highlighted the enduring spiritual ties between Nigeria and Brazil, rooted in a shared Yoruba heritage that continues to influence communities on both continents.
NICO’s Executive Secretary, Mr Abiodun Ajiboye, described WOOCON as a cornerstone of the current global cultural renaissance, with Nigeria poised to play a leading role.
Ajiboye, who also serves as Secretary of the WOOCON Board of Trustees, said the congress aims to reposition Nigeria as a major tourism hub and could generate over $10 billion annually in cultural and spiritual tourism revenue within three years.
“WOOCON is not just a congress. It’s a movement to reclaim and redefine African cultural consciousness and identity,” he said.
He added that Nigeria’s collaboration with Brazil in heritage and tradition stems from deep-rooted historical ties, especially through Yoruba cultural festivals that draw thousands of Brazilian visitors annually.
“These interactions reaffirm the strong ancestral ties between our people and highlight the need for structured engagements that will solidify these bonds,” Ajiboye said.
He noted that countries in the Caribbean are also part of the WOOCON initiative.
WOOCON’s full calendar of cultural and intellectual events is expected to unfold in the coming months, with Nigeria positioned at the centre of the global movement.