Nigeria-born visiting Professor of Ifa Methodology to Chicago University in the United States of America, Ifayemi Elebuibon, Wednesday, berated some Nigerian monarchs, particularly those in the south western Nigeria, for being what he called ‘agents of foreign cultures’.
He regretted that most Nigerian monarchs who were supposed to be custodians of cultures have allowed western influence to override them by promoting foreign cultures at the expense of their indigenous cultural heritage.
Elebuibon spoke at a maiden symposium on Cultural Renaissance organised by the Centre for Creative Arts, University of Ilorin.
The renowned world professor of Ifa methodology said the symposium was happening at a time when south western Nigeria is at cross roads, because according to him, “some monarchs who are supposed to be custodians of our cultures are agents of foreign cultures in Yoruba land.”
In his submission titled, “Return back to our root”, the university don said urgent steps must be taken to reverse the trend to save current generation and those yet unborn from extinction.
“Let us speak our language, let us eat our food, and let us wear our garments. It is what God has given us, don’t let us parish in our time,” he said.
Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Wahab Egbewole, urged policy makers in the country at various levels to borrow from China’s cultural model of growing her economy by developing Nigeria’s economy within the context of her culture.
In his speech titled, “No Culture, No Development,” Egbewole said “We have been thinking in other people’s culture. It is high time we started thinking in our own ways so that we will be able to develop faster.
He charged the centre which he said was deliberately established by his administration to strive towards getting UNESCO receognition to be able to achieve the purposes for which it was established.
