Culture and Tourism

Erinmo To Hold Agidanyin Founder’s Day festival Saturday

Published

3 years ago

December 8, 2022

By Richard Akintade, Osogbo

All is now set for this year edition of the annual Agidanyin Founder’s Day Festival in Erinmo Kingdom, Oriade Local Government area of Osun State.

According to the Elerinmo of Erinmo Kingdom, Oba Odunayo Ajayi, Arowotawaya II and the Chairman, Planning Committee for this year celebration, Chief Taiwo Agbonmagbe, the Obaloro of Erinmo in a press statement issued and made available to our Correspondent, Agidanyin festival is a traditional festival celebrated annually to remember the great progenitor of Erinmo who was Agidanyin the son of Obalufon Alayemore.

The statement described Agidanyin as a great fearless warrior who participated active by in several wars especially the numerous inter-tribal wars at that time.
“Among the Kings who have joined the Elerinmo and the residents to celebrate Agidanyin festival in the past include, the Ooni of Ife, Alaaye of Efon Alaaye in EKiti state, Elegboro of Ijebu-Jesa and Ajalaiye of Ipetu-Ijesa”.

Oba Arowotawaya in the statement, harped on the importance of upholding cultural heritage in the nation saying Agidanyin festival is a medium to make the world realise the significance of upholding the strong heritage and culture of the land.
According to the culture and tradition loving monarch, “here in Erinmo Kingdom, we want to use this medium to make the world know that what we are doing is upholding the strong heritage and culture of the Yoruba race, to showcase our tradition and culture to the entire world and we want to keep it intact while we do not want anything to dilute our tradition and inheritance from our race”.

“We are calling on all our sons, daughters, friends and associates of Erinmo both at home and in diaspora to join us in celebrating this festival holding on Saturday December 10, 2022 at Elerinmo’s Palace Foyer by 9am”.

The Royal father of the day for this year event according to the statement is Kabiyesi Owa Oye of Imesi Ile, Oba Enoch Ademila Akinyemi Oyoyo II, while Hon Oluwole Oke, the House of Representatives member representing Oriade/Obokun Federal Constituency will be the Chairman of the occasion as well as the Olobu of Ilobu in Irepodun local government area of Osun state, Oba Ashiru Olatoye Olaniyan, the Special Guest of Honour for the day.

Some of these traditional Chiefs of the ancient community, the Lebedo of Erinmo, Chief Joseph Osobu, Edinmo of Erinmo, Chief Joseph Agbesuyi and Loja of Afajigede Ijaregbe Ilesa, Chief Rotimi Oniyaomebi would join the Elerinmo to pray for Erinmo Kingdom, the residents, Osun state, friends and associates, saying the festival is not for merry making alone.

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Creative Industry

Musawa Highlights Art and Culture as Drivers of Public Sector Excellence at Legislative Mentorship Session

Published

3 days ago

November 28, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, Esq., has emphasized the importance of integrating art and culture into public-sector excellence in Nigeria.

In a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by the SA Media & Publicity, Office of the Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy Nneka Ikem Anibeze, Phd.

Musawa made this known while addressing trainees at the 4th Legislative Mentorship Initiative (LMI), held at the National Institute For Legislative and Democratic Studies, Abuja on Thursday.

Themed ‘Building the next generation of Public Sector Leaders’, Minister Musawa highlighted art and culture as essential tools for national cohesion and identity, economic development and job creation, innovation and civic engagement, sustainable development, and projecting Nigeria’s soft power and global identity.

She noted that Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage is a unifying force that binds different ethnicities and elaborated on how Art and Culture is key to public-sector excellence in Nigeria.

“First, embracing and promoting art and culture helps to forge national cohesion and shared identity among Nigeria’s diverse populations. Integrating culture into public policy and governance transforms the creative and cultural sectors into engines of economic development, job creation and diversification. Cultural industries including crafts, music, film, design, heritage tourism can generate livelihoods, attract investment, expand exports, and reduce overreliance on a narrow set of economic activities.

“A society that values creativity and cultural expression tends to produce more resourceful citizens, fosters cross-cultural dialogue, and encourages public servants to be more adaptive, empathetic, and culturally aware while prioritizing culture and creative economy in public policy through frameworks, institutions, and infrastructure, demonstrates long-term vision and commitment to sustainable development,” Musawa said.

The Minister called for supportive policies, enabling legislation, and sustained commitment to fulfill this vision, including laws that protect intellectual property, incentivize investment in creative infrastructure, and integrate arts and culture into education and community development.

“Embedding art and culture at the heart of governance and public-sector planning is not a luxury, it is a necessity. It builds unity, drives economic growth, fosters innovation, strengthens institutions, and ensures that development respects and reflects the soul of the nation,” she emphasized.

Musawa thanked the founder of the Legislative Mentorship Initiative (LMI), Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his inspiring vision and unwavering commitment to cultivating Nigeria’s future public-service leaders.

Other speakers at the Legislative Mentorship Initiative include the Director General, Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization Aisha Augie, Nigerian photo-journalist and documentary photographer Bayo Omoboriowo, Amb. Dapo Oyewole, Secretary-General Conference of Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures amongst others.

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