Yoruba cultural-tourism assets on display as Gani Adams inaugurates OPU in CANADA

Members of Yoruba in diaspora recently showcased the beauty of the cultural-tourism values of their race in Canada when the Are Ona Kankanfo of Yorubaland, Chief Gani Adams paid a visit to the country.

Chief Adams, who is the Global Convener of Oodua Progressive Union (OPU), in company of two prominent Yoruba traditional rulers, the Zaki of Arigidi, Oba Yisa Olanipekun and the Owa of Ogbagi, Oba Adetona Victor with other eminent Yoruba personalities, was in Canada to inaugurate Oodua Progressive Union (OPU), a socio-cultural tourism organisation founded by the Are Ona Kankanfo to promote the cultural-tourism values of Yoruba in the diaspora.

Before the event, Chief Adams with his entourage had visited the Canadian High Commission in Ottawa, Canada, where he was received by Mrs Joy Akinmoladun, Head of Chancery and the representative of the ambassador, Mr Atodo and other embassy officials.

Chief Adams disclosed to the officials his purpose of being in Canada. “It is with great honour and delight that I welcome you all to the inaugural ceremony of the Canada chapter of OPU. Today’s event is a fulfilment of the dream to expand the frontiers of our group to Canada and the rest of the world, Adams said while delivering his inaugural speech.

“The last inauguration was held in Dubai, and it was a big success.  Our experience in Dubai was interesting and I hope we shall all have an exciting experience also here in Canada. I have prepared this speech with two reasons in mind.”

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While delivering her welcome address, the OPU Canada coordinator, Mr Funmi Olumade, stated that having OPU Canada was an opportunity to converge Yoruba sons and daughters to promote the Yoruba culture, which she posited must not go into extinction.

“The launching of the OPU Canada is a platform for Yoruba in the diaspora to support one another, promote our cultural heritage in the diaspora. Also, give back to southwestern Nigeria in form of human resources, as well as enhance effective transfer of technology from Canada to Nigeria while we keep our cultural heritage alive in Canada through engagement of Yoruba youths in Canada, collaborating with other sociocultural associations as well as other Canadian bodies,’’ she stated.

“We are blessed to be part of this multicultural country called Canada.  Sons and daughters of Oodua in Canada and the diaspora are the cultural ambassadors of Yoruba race and we will continue to promote our cultural heritage at all times, whenever there is opportunity to showcase our culture through forum, mode of dressing and behaviours and impart all these in our youth.”

Chief Adams stated further that “efforts should be made to project the country positively to the world. We need to tell the Nigerian story to the rest of the world. And in doing this, we all have a role to play in making this dream a reality.”

“Today we are in Canada, one of the most successful countries in the world. The success displayed by Canada did not come so cheap; it is all about the enduring legacies of the founding fathers since its independence in July 1867,” while explaining how OPU started.

Also, Chief Adams, alongside other notable Canadians, was honoured with International Leadership Award by Vigor International as well as Vigor Ambassador at Toronto Grand Banquet and Convention Centre, Etobicoke, Toronto, Canada, in the presence of Hon. Douglas Robert Ford, Premier of Toronto: Hon. Hazel McCallion – the longest serving Mayor in Canadian History; Mr Shenglin Xian, a renowned Chartered Financial Consultant in Canada, among others.

Congratulatory messages from Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Pierre James Trudeau, Honourable Victor Oh, Senator of Ontario, Hon John Tory, and Mayor of Toronto were delivered to Chief Adams at the event.

The founder and president of Vigor Award International, Queen Amine, who is a rising actress and a beacon of light in the fast-growing Nigerian Canadian film industry, commended Chief Adams for his strident efforts at salvaging and preventing the death of the Yoruba culture, tradition, values outside the shores of Nigeria.