FOR his giant and consistent stride at exhibiting the cultural heritage of the Yoruba , the management and staff of the National Museum, Ile-Ife has appointed Oloye Lekan Alabi, Agba Akin Olubadan as the Cultural Ambassador of the entity.
According to Mr Joseph O. Ogundele, Curator, National Museum, Ile Ife “It is our pleasure to announce the nomination and the appointment of Oloye Lekan Alabi, Agba Akin Olubadan, a veteran journalist, a consummate Public Relations expert , a first class culture enthusiast, a paragon of intrinsic values and ethics of behaviour and an avid promoter and preserver of heritage, archaeology and cultural artefacts as the Cultural ambassador of national museum, Ile – Ife.”
Mr Ogundele revealed “The appointment is based on the personal justification of the recipient, who has not allowed his cosmopolitanism, debonair , vagaries of globalisation , the advent of vogues , the frequencies of style in seasons and the dynamism of the social society to becloud the intrinsic and innate cultural values in him, first as an Ibadan man and second as a Yoruba entity.”
He said “ We have taken note of his agrarian passion for cultural etiquette , in terms of dressing , ethics , values and traditional protocol . We are proud to single him out as one Yoruba man who have in the past two years never adorned any dress which is not traditional in concept and style.“
Mr Ogundele said “He , Oloye Alabi is a paragon of responsibility. A complete Omoluabi who also show great interest in the Ile – Ife Archaeology and Material Culture which is the nexus of the National Museum, Ife. His mastery of the import of museum and relevance to the perpetuation of intergenerational history cannot be quantified. Oloye Alabi has proved to be an authentic man of culture both in words, deeds and action . Hence, he has been found fit and proper , overshooting the benchmark of who could be our Ambassador . Thus we are proud to appoint him as the Cultural Ambassador National Museum, Ile Ife.
He informed that the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has not only endorsed the appointment, but has agreed to host the investiture on the 7th Day of the 7th Month in the year 2017!.
The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso 1 and the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, Ogbagba II have described the appointment of Oloye Alabi as a round peg in a round hole “It is a well deserved and long overdue appointment for a Yoruba icon and prominent son who has contributed immensely to the sustenance and veneration of Yoruba culture.”
In a brief interview with Tribune Tourism Magazine, Oloye Alabi expressed gratitude to the management and staff of he National Museum , Ife who found him worthy of being their Ambassador pointing out “I will not relent or rest on my oars in the crusade for the promotion and appreciation of the time – honoured Yoruba tradition and culture.”
Oloye Alabi thanked the traditional rulers for the implicit confidence they repose in him by their endorsement adding “I will never let them down.”
He called on all lovers of tourism , arts and culture, tradition and heritage to make it a date on July 7, 2017 at the Ife Museum , where the investiture will take place.
and then