How Oyo State celebrated World Culture Day

Last week, the world celebrated culture day. In Oyo State, it was marked with pomp and celebration as the governor of the state, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, declared that all state workers go to work in cultural attires and encouraged residents of the state to eat local delicacies.

While celebrating the day, the Director of Culture, Oyo State Ministry of Information, Mr Adegbemiga Alade, commended Governor Abiola Ajimobi for approving the celebration of World Cultural Day in the state.

He urged people in the state and Nigeria as whole, to promote its culture by speaking indigenous languages, eating its food and wearing its clothes.

And so, people from diverse ethinic cultures, Nollywood stars and various  cultural groups across the state matched round the city. Among places visited were the Cultural Centre, Mokola; Total Garden, Gate; the Government House before ending the trek at the Governor’s office where he addressed the people.

Alade said, “In Oyo State, the celebration of the 2017 World Culture Day is commendable because we know that the Oyo State governor is a culture loving governor. He approved that we should celebrate.

“Not only that, he gave us the express permission that all workers in the state, including the students to celebrate the day by wearing our indigenous clothes; this is laudable achievement as far as cultural promotion is concerned.

“We have gone round the city to sensitize the people on the need promote our culture because what is ours is ours, we should cherish it and give it the vibrant promotion and that is what we are doing.

“The state Commissioner for Information, Toye Arulogun led us to all media houses in the state, sensitizing people about our local  culture and dialect.

“I want the general public to know that what is authentic to us is our culture, we should cherish it because what the white people want to see here is the originality of our culture.

“For us to attract tourists to this state, we need to bring out the originality of the etiquette of our culture. If we promote and preserve it, it will be to our advantage, so I want to enjoin the people of Oyo State to ensure that we promote our dress and food culture.

We should patronise our art and craft in order to create jobs for people in that area,” he said.