Daud Olatunji
The Ogun State chapter of the Freelance and Independent Broadcasters’ Association of Nigeria (FIBAN) will on August 21, 2026, bring traditional religion, cultural preservation and constitutional rights to the centre of public discourse at a special lecture in Abeokuta.
A statement isuses on Sunday by Secretary, Planning Committee, Comrade Olusoji Akindiya (Okanlomo) stated that the lecture, titled “Yorùbá Traditional Religion and Human Rights: Balancing Cultural Heritage, Religious Freedom, and Constitutional Rights in Contemporary Nigeria,” will hold at the Cinema Hall of the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta.
The statement further stated that the event was designed to examine the increasingly complex relationship between age-old Yoruba customs and religious practices and the fundamental rights guaranteed to citizens under Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.
According to Ogun FIBAN, the lecture will interrogate such issues as the protection of indigenous religious practices, freedom of worship, freedom of movement, human dignity, gender considerations and the rights of traditional institutions and adherents of indigenous religions.
It will also examine the extent to which traditional cultural practices can be preserved and practised without infringing on the rights and freedoms of other citizens.
The guest lecturer is the Araba Awo of Osogboland, Chief Ifayemi Ayinde Elebuibon, a foremost Yoruba traditionalist, author and cultural icon.
The symposium will be chaired by the Apena Egba and Grand Patron of Ogun FIBAN, Chief Suarau Olayiwola Alani Bankole.
The Chairman of Ogun FIBAN, Chief Olalekan Shoyinka, popularly known as Ayinla Egba, will host the event, while the Oluwo Ifa of Ogun State, Chief Aregbesola Akanni Anipupo, will serve as co-host.
The Chairman of the FIBAN National Transition Committee, Mogaji Kola Olootu, is the Chief Host, while the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba (Dr) Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, Okukenu IV, will serve as the Royal Father of the Day.
The lecture is the first public lecture specifically focused on culture and tradition to be organised by the Ogun State chapter of FIBAN.
The organisers said the initiative became necessary amid recurring debates surrounding traditional practices and their implications for individual rights, religious freedom and the rule of law.
The Planning Committee stressed that the lecture was not intended to condemn Yoruba traditional religion or undermine indigenous practices.
Rather, it said, the forum would provide a platform for traditional rulers, cultural custodians, adherents of indigenous religions, lawyers, academics, religious leaders, government officials, security agencies, journalists, civil society groups and members of the public to discuss sensitive issues in an objective and respectful manner.
The committee said adherents of Yoruba traditional religion, like other citizens, were entitled to constitutional protection, freedom of worship and respect for their beliefs.
It, however, added that the exercise of cultural and religious freedoms must also respect the fundamental rights and dignity of other citizens.
The lecture is being supported by the Ogun State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Ogun State Alternate Medicine Board and Obafemi Owode Local Government.
The organisers said the involvement of the institutions underscored the wider public interest in cultural preservation, responsible traditional practices, indigenous knowledge, community development and peaceful coexistence.
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism is expected to bring its perspective to discussions on the preservation and promotion of Ogun’s cultural heritage.
The Ogun State Alternate Medicine Board, which has responsibilities in the regulation, registration, training and professional development of practitioners in the traditional and alternative medicine sector, is also expected to contribute to discussions around indigenous knowledge and contemporary standards.
The participation of Obafemi Owode Local Government, according to the organisers, reflects the importance of grassroots involvement in preserving and promoting indigenous culture.
Ogun FIBAN said its involvement in the initiative was informed by the responsibility of broadcasters to create credible platforms for public discourse on sensitive societal issues.
The association said debates about culture and religion should not be left to emotions, misinformation, stereotypes or religious and cultural prejudices.
It argued that the media had a critical role to play in promoting a better understanding of indigenous traditions, facilitating dialogue among people of different faiths and cultural backgrounds, and ensuring balanced coverage of issues involving culture, religion and human rights.
The association expressed hope that the lecture would contribute to the wider national conversation on how Nigeria could preserve its diverse cultural heritage while protecting human dignity and constitutional rights.
It said the ultimate objective was to promote dialogue, understanding and responsible cultural evolution rather than create further divisions between traditional institutions, religious groups and other members of society.
The association therefore invited traditional and religious institutions, cultural organisations, legal practitioners, academics, students, media professionals, government representatives, security agencies, civil society organisations and members of the public to participate in the lecture.
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