The State Governor of Ọṣun, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has expressed gratitude to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for suggesting that four of its sites be designated as national monuments and world heritage sites as part of the state government’s efforts to make Yorùbá cultural heritage sites famous and of the highest caliber possible.
The State Governor of Ọṣun, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has expressed gratitude to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for suggesting that four of its sites be designated as national monuments and world heritage sites as part of the State Government of Osun’s efforts to highlight and internationalize Yorùbá cultural heritage sites.
The Governor gave the commendation during the inspection to the tourist sites located in Ilé-Ifè which are: Quadrangle buildings which consist of about sixteen buildings inside Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife; Ifa Temple; Opa Oranmiyan Grove and Shrine as well as Olumirin Water Fall, Erin Ijesa.
The team included Mr. Ogunmola Nathaniel, Curator of the National Museums Village in Ilé-Ifè; Mrs. Solabomi Akinsola, Coordinating Director of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism; Mrs. Solape Abolarin, Executive Secretary of the Council for Art and Culture; and other management staff members of the Ministry, including the Council and Tourism Board, among others.
The people of the state were grateful that UNESCO had approved the sites as national monuments, according to Governor Adeleke, who addressed them through the Coordinating Director of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mrs. Solabomi Akinsola.
With the assurance that the state government will do everything necessary to guarantee the sites fulfil the UNESCO standard, she continued, Ọṣun residents would be more appreciative if the sites were designated as World Heritage Sites.
Thus, he gave the Commission his word that the state wouldn’t interfere with her prerogative.
While speaking, Professor Adebayo Bamire, Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, expressed gratitude to UNESCO for honouring the university and pledged that the institution would follow the guidelines governing the site to reach the criteria.
Mr. Ogunmola Nathaniel responded on his own, recalling that work had begun on it in 2021 and explaining that there were procedures to be followed, including measuring the sites, taking photos of them, and instructing the guardians to preserve the natural beauty of the sites, including the structures.
Similar to this, the team travelled to the Ifá Temple with Professor Adisa Ogunfolakan, Director of the AG Leventis Museum of Natural History, who urged the Ifá priests to make sure they did not miss the unique opportunity provided by UNESCO.
The Araba Awo of the Ifá Temple, Aworeni Awodokun, thanked the team and UNESCO for the opportunity, and he made a promise to follow all orders so as not to lose the potential for the temple to be designated a world heritage site. He was represented by his deputy, Awosetan Awotunde.
The group had also been to Opa Oranmiyan Grove and shrine in Ilé-Ifè in the interim.
