Create African cultural–tourism programmes, Gani Adams tells BBC

The Aare Ona kakanfo of Yoruba, Chief Gani Adams has called on the  BBC to endeavour to create cultural–tourism programmes which emphasize on the beautiful scenery that enhances the world over and encourage socio-cultural tourism unity of the world in its strides at endearing the station to wider reach and mileage.

Are Adams made this call after visiting the BBC Global Network London Headquarters where he commended the outfit for setting up  Yoruba TV and Radio Channels?

“First of all, I must commend the BBC Global Network for its strides of breaking global communication network by creating platforms for enhancement of languages other than English. It is a commendable reasoning bearing in mind that the station may as well insist on fostering the English Language on its listeners by letting to the airwaves only European programmes.

But the management of the BBC has taken it upon itself to deploy and create world languages platforms which cater for different major languages of the world.

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“To me, as a Yoruba man and the Aare Ona Kakanfo of the Yoruba race, I am glad, happy and full of praise for the management of BBC for setting up Yoruba TV Station and Radio Channels.

This act  unknown to  BBC has endeared the station to my hearts and the hearts of many Yoruba both in Nigeria and in the diaspora”

Aare Adams remarked “By the creation of portals and programmes for different languages of the world, BBC has taken a great step at saving some of the world languages from going into extinction. This alone is an inestimable generational service to humanity via the sustainability and protection of world culture, values and more”.

He said “I was worried and sorrowful when I read a research which was carried out in a Yoruba populated community in Peckham, UK. This research revealed that if care is not taken, the Yoruba Language will go into extinction in Peckham! That was two years ago. You can now see why I am glad at  BBC’s efforts for creating Yoruba TV and Radio Channels as this will go a long way at reducing the fast rate with which my language is not being spoken by my people in Diaspora. And I am sure, this may be the case to others major languages in the world which BBC has helped to enhance”

Aare Adams assured the BBC of the cooperation and support of the office of the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba whenever it is needed by the corporation noting “it is in our own efforts at revitalising the culture, value and language of Yoruba that we launched Oodua Progressive Union (OPU) which is active in 86 countries. Members are always ready to be the sources of information on Yoruba culture and other inquisition which may be of value to BBC”.