Preserve Yoruba heritage, Fashagba charges Okun parents

Provost of Kogi State College of Education, Ankpa, Dr Paul Femi Fashagba, has urged parents in Okunland to deliberately expose their children to the culture, traditions and values of the Yoruba-speaking people of the state.

Fashagba, who is also the national president of Ogale Development Union (ODU), made the call at the 2026 Egbeda Egga Day celebration, in Ijumu Local Government Area of the state.

He commended the organisers for staging what he described as a well-packaged event, saying sustained exposure to indigenous traditions would help children remain connected to their roots.

The educationist stressed that culture and development were interwoven, and that communities should preserve their heritage and transmit it from one generation to another.

“Culture and development are interwoven, and hardly can you separate the two. We from Ijumu-Oke, specifically Egbeda Egga, as one of the strongest communities in Ijumu-Oke, are showcasing their culture and values,” he said.

The celebration, according to him, also provides an opportunity for prominent personalities in the state to identify with the community and contribute to its development.

READ ALSO: FCTA rebuts allegations of teacher harassment, defends education reforms

Fashagba added that sustained cultural activities would strengthen children’s sense of identity and belonging, enjoining communities in Ijumu to intensify efforts to preserve their heritage.

“If this could continue, it will give a sense of belonging to our children and the unborn ones so that they will be able to identify and associate with their traditions and culture,” he said, adding that cultural festivals should go beyond entertainment to promote community mobilisation, development and the preservation of traditional values.