Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, have described renowned Ifa priest and Yoruba cultural advocate, Ifayemi Elebuibon, as an invaluable asset to the Yoruba race and the African continent.
The commendations were made during Elebuibon’s birthday and housewarming ceremony held at his Ogbeyonu House in Osogbo.
Speaking at the event, Oyebamiji described the celebrated Ifa priest as a repository of knowledge on African tradition and culture, stressing that his lifelong contributions deserve continuous recognition.
He also urged greater investment in Osun State’s tourism sector, noting that the state possesses numerous cultural and historical attractions capable of generating significant revenue and creating employment opportunities if properly developed.
“Araba Elebuibon is a blessing to mankind. For us in Africa, he is an asset, and specifically for Nigeria, someone who should be celebrated every year. The best way to celebrate him is to revive our tourism potential, including the Osun-Osogbo Grove, Ayekunugba Waterfall, Erin-Ijesa Waterfall, the Ifa Temple, Oranmiyan Staff, and many other tourist sites across the state,” Oyebamiji said.
Governor Adeleke, represented by the Commissioner for Political Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations, Dr. Biyi Odunlade, described Elebuibon as a global icon of Yoruba culture and tradition whose expertise has earned international respect.
He said the Osun State Government considers the renowned traditional scholar a valuable cultural ambassador and remains committed to promoting Yoruba heritage on the global stage.
“As a government, Araba is an asset to Osun State, and we always celebrate his commitment to the promotion of Yoruba tradition across the globe. We are committed to ensuring that Osun becomes a reference point for projecting African culture globally in his honour,” Odunlade said.
In his remarks, Elebuibon attributed his global recognition to his unwavering commitment to the preservation and promotion of Yoruba religion, culture and tradition.
He called on governments at all levels and other stakeholders to place greater emphasis on preserving and promoting Nigeria’s cultural heritage, arguing that doing so would boost tourism and attract international attention.
“It is time for government and all stakeholders to understand that the only way to bring global attention to the country is to project our culture and tradition to the outside world. That is what will attract tourists here. We just need to ensure proper packaging and branding to promote what we have rather than embrace what is foreign to us,” he said.
