New Advocacy Group, ‘Yoruba Global Alliance’ Unveils its Agenda for the Yoruba Race

“Our group is not in competition with any other existing organization dedicated to the Yoruba cause as we are ready to forge alliances with other like-minded group within and outside of the country with the same progressive goals” says the President of the new advocacy group, Dr. Amos Akingba on the 12^th of November, 2020 at Lagos Airport Hotel as he unveils the agenda and announces the presence of ‘Yoruba Global Alliance’ to the media.

With the event starting exactly at 12pm that Thursday afternoon at syndicate room 6 of the popular Lagos Airport Hotel with several media teams amongst which was the correspondent of the online news, Eko Hot Blog, the unveiling of this new group took place.

Prof. Anthony Kila who opened the conference gave an insight into the creation of the group. He said the group consists of people of like minds who are defined by two major things: the understanding of the burden of history of the Yoruba race for posterity and the consciousness to give of their time, idea and finances to promote the essence of their existence. He said that members of the group consist of Yoruba indigenes from different states representing different interest groups.

After his introduction, Chief Sangogbade Poopola, a leader in the group gave the traditional opening prayer, Iwure, calling on the Supreme god, Olodumare to bless the gathering.

The President, Dr. Amos Akingba, opened the press conference and in his speech titled, ‘Unveiling Yoruba Global Alliance’ paid tribute, first to the supreme god of the Yorubas, Olodumare for making the day possible, he also paid tributes to the ancestors and ancestral spirits.

Next he paid homage to several notable Yoruba leaders, both living and dead “whose prowess brought fame, national and international recognition to the Yoruba race” amongst which are Chief Obafemi Awolowo as the “as a leading light and pathfinder for our race”, Alhaji Jimoh Odutola, Alfred Rewane, Chief S. Ade Ojo, Dr. Odumosu who published lwe Egbigi in 1913, Chief Odulate of Alabukun fame.

Others are Late Pa. Ogunde, Late Duro Ladipo, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Tunde Kelani, Elemure Ogunyemi, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Ayinde Barrister, Pa. Adekunle Ajasin, Pa Gbonigi.

Dr. Amos stated that Yoruba Global Alliance would follow the same path of the progenitors who have been fighting for the freedom of the Yoruba race using their time, talent, resources, energy and skill.

According to him, the vision of the group is in three folds: Education, Emancipation and Empowerment of Yoruba People, Protection and Promotion of Yoruba Culture and Security of Yorubaland.

Further on, he said this group hopes to provide an enabling environment for economic development, creation of a level playing field for all and restoring the Yoruba language with its cultural virtues and values.

He reiterated the recognition and reverence of the Obas and High Chiefs which is a major part of the Yoruba traditional system.

The group also is very particular about agriculture as a means of sustenance and livelihood of the Yoruba people and has already begun sponsoring graduates in agricultural programs.

He concluded that should the Yoruba achieve the aim of a sovereign state, all other ethnic groups with business investments would run their businesses without hindrances.

After the President’s speech, Prof. Kila gave an overview of the group’s existence. He said the group consisted of notable Yorubas’ leaders who have the willingness and readiness to do for others what would better their lives. He emphasized the importance of language and religion in promoting the cultural values, virtues and essences of the Yoruba race. He said the Yoruba Global Alliance is doing what she can do for the race by “tapping into the past, the roots, to work in the present and project into the future”. Part of the agenda of the group, he stated, is to promote, defend and propagate the tradition of the Yoruba people using the language, history and myth because these are part of the essentials of the race.

The group’s organogram, according to him, goes beyond the Yorubas’ of the South-Western Nigeria to those who identify with the race in the North Central, South-South zones with extensions to Republic of Benin and Brazil in South America. He said the traceable and identifiable origin of the Yoruba group, wherever they are in the world makes the interest of the group a world affair as the vision goes beyond the normal complexities of Nigeria.

The structure of the group also recognizes a council of elders which would be chaired by Prof. Wande Abimbola, the President, in the person of Dr. Amos Akingba, a leaders’ council chaired by Akogun Tola Adeniyi and Chancellor of tradition, Chief Solagbade Popoola to guide and promote the Yoruba tradition.

Of importance to this group is the recognition and reverence of the Yoruba Obas and he said the group will have a strong representation in every state. The link http://yorubaglobalalliance.org/membership/  is for interested members and furthermore, YG has various empowerment programs for the youths with strong priority in agriculture.

Akogun Tola Adeniyi began his speech by defining what the word ‘leader’ means in the Yoruba race which he emphasized has nothing to do with physical wealth or political power but someone who is the best in his area of influence couples with integrity, truth and honour. According to him, Yoruba Global Alliance is an association of leaders who are worthy of their titles in terms of characters, skills and competences.

Akogun Adeniyi also emphasized the importance of skills acquisition as part of the Yoruba cultural virtues which must be reintroduced even with formal education acquisition.

Chief Solagbade Popoola, Yoruba historian and custodian gave his speech with a lot of deep Yoruba proverbs and adages as he reiterated the need to resort to the roots of Yoruba traditional culture. He laid out the fact, from research, that the Yorubas’ of South Westerner Nigeria are the oldest people on earth which he says Olodumare, made so.

He emphasized the place of language in the emancipation of the race. He said one of the essentials of the group is to bring back the Yoruba language to everyday usages.

He also spoke about the foods cultivated by the Yoruba race which is best for their overall health and agricultural purposes.

He said the Yoruba land have never been a republic but kingdoms and the names that people of this race bare points to the origin/households.

Dr. Fred Agbeyegbe chaired the unveiling of the group.