Lagos To Celebrate Yorùbá Week Annually In September

The Lagos State Government has announced plans to dedicate the last week of September every year as “Yorùbá Week” to celebrate the Yorùbá culture.

In a press statement on Monday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Eromosele Ebhomele, the move is to preserve and promote the rich Yorùbá cultural heritage.

The decision was conveyed to the Lagos State House of Assembly through a letter from the executive arm, following a resolution passed by the lawmakers on September 19, 2023, calling for the activation of Yorùbá cultural heritage and the assignment of a special day as Yorùbá Day.

The letter, dated April 8, 2024, and signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, stated, “Sequel to the resolution of the House at its plenary of Tuesday, 19th September, 2023, on the activation of Yorùbá cultural heritage and a special day to be assigned as Yorùbá day, I have the directive to officially convey Mr. Governor’s approval for the last week of September as Yorùbá Week.”

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Reacting to the announcement, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his cabinet for the decision, describing it as a “good development.”

Obasa said that the Yorùbá culture and heritage are very important, and there is a need for its preservation, adding that the House is ready to support the executive to ensure the success of the planned Yorùbá Week.

Meanwhile, during Monday’s plenary session, the Lagos State House of Assembly observed a minute of silence in honour of the late former Governor of old Anambra State, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, who was recently buried while the House was in recess.

Speaker Obasa paid tribute to the late politician, describing him as a “pan-Nigerian who supported the Yorùbá and the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) especially during the dark days of military reign and following the struggle for Chief MKO Abiola.”

“We remember how he proudly stepped down for Olu Falae back then in 1999,” Obasa said.

The Yorùbá Week celebration is expected to showcase various aspects of the Yorùbá culture, including traditional attire, music, dance, cuisine, and other cultural expressions, in a bid to promote and preserve the rich heritage of the Yorùbá people.

“It should be noted that September, the month of choice, falls within the Month of Kiriji/Èkìtì-parapo Peace Treaty, which was signed in 1886 by warring Yorùbá Subgroups and mediated by the British, following decades of Civil wars.