The foremost Yoruba traditionalist, author and cultural icon, Chief Ifayemi Ayinde Elebuibon, is to deliver a lecture at a landmark public lecture on culture and tradition oganised by the Ogun State Chapter of the Freelance and Independent Broadcasters’ Association of Nigeria (FIBAN)
Penpushing reports that this was contained in a statement issued by the Secretary, Planning Committee of the association Comrade Olusoji Akindiya adding that the lecture, is scheduled to hold Friday, August 21, 2026, at the Cinema Hall, June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta.
The statement stated that the theme is “Yorùbá Traditional Religion and Human Rights: Balancing Cultural Heritage, Religious Freedom, and Constitutional Rights in Contemporary Nigeria.”
Penpushing further reports that Akindiya popularly called Okanlomo said the conference is with a focus on the relationship between Yorùbá traditional religious practices, cultural heritage and fundamental human rights in contemporary Nigeria.
The statement explained that the event, which is the first public lecture specifically dedicated to culture and tradition is conceived as a platform for critical but constructive engagement on some of the complex questions arising from the interaction between age-long Yorùbá customs, traditional religious practices, individual liberties and constitutional guarantees.
Penpushing also reports that the statement stated that Elebuibon who is the Araba Awo of Osogboland, has consented, adding that the lecture is expected to examine issues surrounding the preservation and protection of Yorùbá cultural and religious heritage.
The statement said it include the rights of traditional institutions and adherents of indigenous religions, freedom of religion and worship, freedom of movement, human dignity, gender considerations and the extent to which cultural practices can operate within the framework of Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.
Penpushing reports that the association disclosed that the symposium will be chaired by Chief Suarau Olayiwola Alani Bankole, Apena Egba, who is also the Grand Patron of Freelance and Independent Broadcasters’ Association of Nigeria (FIBAN) Ogun State.
The statement said the event will be hosted by the Chairman of the broadcasting body, Chief Olalekan Shoyinka (Ayinla Egba), while Chief Aregbesola Akanni Anipupo, the Oluwo Ifa of Ogun State, will serve as Co-Host.
Penpushing further reports that it stated that the Chief Host of the event is Mogaji Kola Olootu, Chairman, the Freelance and Independent Broadcasters’ Association of Nigeria (FIBAN) National Transition Committee, while His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, will grace the occasion as the Royal Father of the Day.
The statement stated that the landmark lecture is being supported by the Ogun State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Ogun State Alternate Medicine Board (OGAMB), and Obafemi Owode Local Government.
‘The support of these institutions reflects the broad institutional relevance of the lecture and the shared interest in promoting cultural preservation, responsible traditional practices, public enlightenment, community development and peaceful coexistence’, the statement read.
‘The Ogun State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, as a key government institution responsible for the promotion and preservation of the state’s cultural heritage, brings an important institutional perspective to the discourse’, it added.
Penpushing also reports that the body said the Ogun State Alternate Medicine Board (OGAMB), with its responsibilities relating to the registration, regulation, training and professional development of practitioners within the traditional and alternative medicine sector, is equally an important stakeholder in conversations concerning indigenous knowledge, traditional practices and contemporary standards.
‘Similarly, the participation and support of Obafemi Owode Local Government, an area with a rich historical and cultural heritage within Egbaland and Ogun State, underscores the importance of grassroots participation in the preservation and promotion of indigenous culture and traditions’.
Penpushing reports that the Planning Committee explained that, the initiative has become particularly relevant against the backdrop of recurring public debates over certain traditional and religious practices and their implications for the rights and freedoms of citizens.
The committee noted that the objective of the lecture is neither to condemn Yoruba traditional religion nor to diminish the importance of indigenous cultural practices, but to create an atmosphere where difficult and sometimes sensitive questions can be examined objectively, intellectually and respectfully.
Penpushing further reports it stressed that adherents of Yoruba traditional religion are equally entitled to constitutional protection, freedom of worship and respect for their beliefs, just as the exercise of cultural and religious freedoms must take cognisance of the fundamental rights and dignity of other citizens.
The statement said the lecture will therefore provide an opportunity for traditional rulers and institutions, custodians of Yoruba culture, practitioners of indigenous religion, legal practitioners, academics, religious leaders, government officials, security agencies, media professionals, civil society organisations, students and members of the public to interrogate the boundaries between cultural preservation, religious freedom, individual rights and the rule of law.
Penpushing also reports that statement said the event is equally expected to draw participation from professional bodies, educational institutions, cultural organisations and other stakeholders whose contributions can enrich the conversation on the place of indigenous culture and religion in a modern constitutional democracy.
The statement said the association, as media professionals and broadcasters whose activities bring them into close contact with communities across the grassroots, has a responsibility to provide credible platforms for informed public discourse on sensitive societal issues rather than allow such conversations to be driven solely by emotions, misinformation, stereotypes or religious and cultural prejudices.
Penpushing further reports that the association pointed out that the media has a critical role to play in promoting accurate understanding of indigenous traditions, facilitating dialogue among people of different faiths and cultural backgrounds, and ensuring that issues involving culture and human rights receive fair, responsible and balanced treatment.
The broadcasters expressed optimism that the lecture would contribute meaningfully to the continuing conversation on how Nigeria can preserve its rich cultural heritage without undermining human dignity, while also ensuring that indigenous religions and traditional institutions are not deprived of their legitimate rights in a plural and democratic society.
Penpushing reports that it emphasised that the lecture is ultimately about dialogue, understanding and responsible cultural evolution, with the objective of finding a sustainable balance between the preservation of cherished traditions and the protection of the rights and freedoms guaranteed to every citizen.
‘Members of the public, traditional and religious institutions, cultural organisations, legal professionals, academics, students, media practitioners, government representatives, security agencies and other stakeholders are invited to attend and participate in the discourse’, the statement read.
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