The Governor of Osun State, His Excellency, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, will be honoured with the ‘Pride of Oduduwa’ award at this year’s Omo Oduduwa Cultural Exhibition and Awards Night holding in the United Kingdom in November.
Organised by Ile Agbasaga UK Ltd, the 3-day extravaganza is aimed at exploring Yoruba culture through music, products exhibition, and awards ceremony.
With the theme: ‘The Pride of Oduduwa’, this year’s event will focus on celebrating the artistic and economic contributions of Oduduwa leaders, with particular emphasis on showcasing the best of Nigeria’s cultural products and services.
The prestigious ‘Pride of Oduduwa Awards’ is at the heart of Omo Oduduwa Cultural event, and is conferred on individuals who have played a pivotal role in the preservation and promotion of Yoruba culture.
According to the helmsman, Ile Agbasaga UK and convener of Omo Oduduwa Cultural Exhibition and Awards, Kayode Samuel, this year’s awardees are distinguished leaders and cultural ambassadors, each chosen for their remarkable contributions to the Oduduwa race, as well as Nigeria’s socio-economic development.
Leading the list of honorees is Governor Ademola Adeleke whose leadership has been widely praised for its commitment to equity, fairness, and delivering the dividends of democracy to the people of Osun state.
“His administration has been lauded for its efforts to boost the state’s cultural and economic profile, making him a natural choice for the 2024 Pride of Oduduwa Awards,” Samuel declared.
The awardees also include Alhaji Kazeem Akinleye, Chief of Staff to Osun State Governor; Alhaji Teslim Igbalaye, Secretary to Osun State Government; Hon. Adeniji Ebenezer Adetunji, Board Chairman, Osun State Council for Arts and Culture; Ambassador Suni Osorun, CEO, Black Wall Street Entertainment; and Prince Ayodeji Lukman Wahab (Sango of Africa), Special Adviser to Osun State Governor on Arts and Culture.
Others are popular musicians Adebayo Adeleke aka BRed, Ayoleyi Hanniel Solomon aka Reekado Banks and Papiwzzy; veteran journalist, Tosin Ajirire; Sunday Olawale Osorun; Ameh Solomon; Adesanya Gbekeloluwa Sogo; Adewale Adeniyi Adegeye; Femi Atitebi; Soluade Adekunle Gabriel; Charles Odunlami; Alarape Mufutu Ishola; and Usman Falilat Olabisi.
Since its inception over a decade ago, the Omo Oduduwa Cultural Exhibition and Awards has served as a platform to honour individuals and institutions that have made significant contributions to the cultural, social and economic development of the Oduduwa people.
Held annually in the United Kingdom, the event has gained international recognition for its blend of cultural celebration and artistic expression.
The organiser, Ile Agbasaga UK, emerges as a dynamic force that is pushing the boundaries of Yoruba and African cultural expressions. At the helm of this transformative movement is Kayode Samuel, a British-Nigerian cultural ambassador with a profound passion for the arts, music, filmmaking and African heritage.
Samuel is dedicated to preserving the artistic traditions of his ancestors while finding innovative ways to bring them to new audiences. His expertise spans multiple creative fields – from film and music to theatre and visual arts – and his leadership has seen Ile Agbasaga grow into a global movement.
Samuel’s tireless work is rooted in his belief that Yoruba culture and African heritage more broadly hold immense potential to inspire and educate audiences around the world.
“We want to take the power and beauty of our culture beyond our borders. Through music, film, visual arts and storytelling, we can show the world the richness of Yoruba heritage; and in doing so, foster a deeper understanding of Africa’s contribution to the global cultural tapestry,” he stated.