The Aare Onakankanfo of Yoruba, Chief Gani Adams, made this call in Hamburg, Germany, at the 4th Global Conference of members of the association.
In his keynote address, Chief Adams said “the purpose of inaugurating OPU outside the shores of Nigeria was not for dancing and eating, neither was it to engage in political activities, it is purely a pan-Yoruba cultural-tourism organisation aimed at resuscitation and rejuvenation of the culture of the Yoruba among the diaspora.
ALSO READ: Afenifere carpets Tinubu over statement on cattle colony
“Our objectives are to advance our culture like the Jews and the Germans. It is our duty to earnestly revive the dying cultural values which is our heritage among those of you who have planted yourself in foreign countries.”
He pointed out: “I must also emphasise that my junketing all over the globe is not for show off, but an ancestral calling to salvage and refresh our pristine culture and to enrich your identity as members of a rich race”.
Chief Adams revealed: “I must tell you that your culture and value is your identity. They are those things that stand you out of the crowd.
They are those things that make you remember that they here may see you as a second class citizen, but your culture and values assure you that definitely you have a root.”
He challenged members of OPU: “I therefore challenge you to flaunt your cultural–tourism values at all times through your conducts, acts, deeds and social interaction in Europe.
‘I commend unto you the famous words of James Aggrey who said I am proud of my colour, whoever is ashamed of his colour is not fit to live’. And I am sure none of you here is ashamed of being a Yoruba as all of you are fit to live.”
Responding, Akinrogun Mobolaji Adewale, OPU Europe Coordinator who commended Chief Adams for his untiring efforts at ensuring the revival and refreshing of Yoruba cultural values in Europe, assured him: “I am assuring the Aare Onakankanfo, we the entire members of OPU Europe will not only be committed to the objective and vision of the association, but we shall continue to rededicate our energies at making sure that the Yoruba cultural–tourism agenda is accomplished.”
Akinrogun Adewale added: “We shall forge further. We shall not only flaunt our cultural heritage to impress our neighbours and society, but shall employ it to shore up the image of our country and foster good understanding of who we are as a race”.
The 4th edition of Oodua Progressive Union (OPU) annual Europe Summit, held on Saturday, October 6, 2018 at Kultur Palast in Hamburg, Germany, was witnessed by distinguished Nigerians and dignitaries, including Ambassador Ogundero Abimbola, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Germany and her husband, Mr Ogundero, the Minister in charge of Information at the Nigeria High Commission in Berlin, Mr Lambert and Chief Adewole, President of Isokan Omo Yoruba.
and then