In the not-too-distant past, the South-West geopolitical zone of Nigeria is renowned for its leadership position in the education sector as well as its civilisation and harmony, which ensured that Yoruba indigenes were not only first in educational attainments but also that their people, irrespective of religion or social status, lived in harmony.
But those glorious days appeared to have gone, and if they have not completely gone, they are racing away too fast, said Chief Fashola Olusoji Adeyemi, the Oluwa Ifa Agbaye and Olunla Awo, a renowned Ifa worshipper domiciled in Iseyin, Oyo State.
According to Chief Fashola, who is the Aare Adimula of Iseyin, at this period when the talks about restructuring had become quite popular, it was time that Yoruba people also addressed the issues of their values of religious tolerance, love for education and communal spirit being eroded, so that the South-West region “can retain its leadership position among other regions in the country.”
The Ifa priest, who stated this in Iseyin, during an educational programme organised by his new foundation, Fashola Oyinbo Ifa Foundation (FOI), to encourage students of secondary schools in the town to focus more on their studies, stated that if the Yoruba allow those values, which were the remaining hallmarks that put them ahead of others in the country to be eroded, the region would pay dearly for it in future.
The event, which featured quiz competition among 16 public and private secondary schools in Iseyin, Fashola noted, was to encourage students to work harder but more importantly to stress the importance of education, which is one of the main objectives of the foundation. Representatives of the Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Abdulganiyu Adekunle Salau; education administrators; fellow Ifa worshippers and other well-meaning Iseyin indigenes were present at the Palace Hall venue of the event.
At the end of the competition, the best three contestants received educational materials and monetary gifts while consolatory cash and educational material prizes were given to seven other contesting schools.
But the Oluwo Ifa Agbaye explained that the spirit behind the event was not really about the gifts but to encourage everyone that is well-to-do in the society in the South-West to pay more attention to the development of education, noting that the way things were going, governments alone should no longer be left to attend to the needs of the education sector.
In his welcome speech, the Ifa priest also fired warning salvos to the governments and the people of South-West on the issues of communality and helping others, noting that the well-to-do in the society must rise up to assist the underprivileged at this period of recession.
“We organised this quiz competition to encourage students to pay more attention to education and to also encourage well-meaning individuals to take more interest in education. Education, which was the greatest pride of the Yoruba people, is already suffering retrogression. That was what everyone around the world knew the South-West of Nigeria for in times past, so I felt that intervening in my little way will help the students and also spur others as well as the government to take more drastic steps to arrest the ugly trend.
The event showcased the beauty of the Yoruba culture, with interpretation of talking drums included in the quiz competition as well dance and drama from the Okiki Theatre Group headed by popular Yoruba movie producer and actor, who also hailed from Iseyin, Rasaq Olayiwola, popularly known as Ojoopagogo.
But what appeared to be the most important part of the event was the continuous reiteration of the need to eschew religious violence, with a campaign message sponsored by Chief Fashola as well as his speech clearly centred on the need for the Yoruba people not to allow religious intolerance and violence to destroy the remaining values of the society.
“One of the greatest objectives of this foundation, I must say, is to preach against religious violence. In fact, our motto is say no to religious violence. I want the world to see that I may be worshipping Ifa; it does not make me less human. You may be a Christian or Muslim; you should not be treated with disdain for what you believe,” he said.
and then