Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola; the
Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; and the Ooni of
Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, have called for unity and
integration among the Yoruba.
The three spoke in Osogbo, Osun State capital,
where children from the United States, Brazil, Cuba,
Argentina, Columbia, South Africa, Ghana, among
others, converged to celebrate this year's Children's
Day.
Pupils from Togo, Benin Republic and Sierra Leone
were also in attendance to witness a calisthenics
display.
One hundred students each from Lagos, Ogun, Oyo
and Ekiti states attended the ceremony held at the
Osogbo Township Stadium, on Monday. The
celebration was tagged Oodua World Children's Day.
Fifty students from Kwara and Kogi states also
participated while Edo and Delta states had 25
students each at the ceremony which was witnessed
by over 20 traditional rulers from outside Nigeria.
Several traditional rulers from Yoruba-speaking
states graced the occasion described by the Ooni
and Alaafin as unique.
Aregbesola said, "Yoruba cultural integration can
only be meaningful if the children, who would carry
on the culture, are properly socialised into it along
with the inculcation of its underpinning values."
In an address entitled, 'Towards global Yoruba
integration', the governor said the celebration was
aimed at promoting discipline and cooperation,
cultural integration and unity among children.
Aregbesola said, "We are of the conviction that the
realisation of the socio-cultural and economic
integration of the Yoruba race can be greatly
enhanced by imparting that vision to our children.
Indeed, such a cultural renaissance agenda cannot
succeed without including the children, for they are a
key factor in its success.
"We can begin right from here, the cradle of the
Yoruba race, to plant the seed that may germinate
into something that will in time surpass the wildest
dream of the brains behind the idea."

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