His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife and Global Patron of the World Orisha Congress (WOOCON), has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his administration’s growing recognition of culture as a vital pillar of national identity, unity, and international diplomacy.

The royal statement was delivered during a high-profile press conference held at the Brazilian Consulate in Lagos, organised by the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) as part of preparations for the upcoming global cultural exchange between Nigeria and Brazil under the auspices of the World Orisha Congress.

In his remarks, the Ooni expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for fostering a cultural-friendly environment and formally recognising traditional heritage and spiritual institutions across the country.

“We are grateful that this administration is giving rightful recognition to our culture,” the Ooni declared. “Culture is the soul of a people. Without it, we have no identity. President Tinubu’s leadership is not only helping to reposition our cultural values on the global stage but also bringing us back to the very essence of our existence.”

Speaking earlier, the Brazilian Consul General in Lagos, His Excellency, Ambassador Manuel Inocencio de Lacerda Santos Junior, lauded the historical and spiritual connections between Brazil and Nigeria, particularly through the shared Yoruba heritage that continues to thrive in both nations.

Presenting an overview of the initiative and the WOOCON project, Otunba Biodun Ajiboye, Executive Secretary/CEO of NICO and Secretary of the WOOCON Board of Trustees, emphasised the ongoing global cultural renaissance and Nigeria’s central role in that narrative.

“WOOCON is not just a congress—it’s a movement to reclaim and redefine African cultural consciousness and identity. This ground-breaking initiative will reposition Nigeria as a major tourism destination by exploring cultural and spiritual tourism capable of generating over 10 billion USD annually for the country within the next three years if properly harnessed.”

Ajiboye explained that Nigeria’s collaboration with Brazil is rooted in deep historical and cultural ties, especially evident in the Yoruba heritage. He cited the influx of Brazilians attending major festivals such as the Osun Osogbo Festival, the Olojo Festival, and the Sango Festival as evidence of this connection.

“These interactions reaffirm the strong ancestral ties between our people and highlight the need for structured engagements that will further solidify these bonds. Interestingly, it is not just Brazil, but several other countries in the Caribbean,” he added.

Also lending their voices through goodwill messages were two eminent cultural icons and patrons of WOOCON—Professor Wole Soyinka and Professor Wande Abimbola. While the Nobel Laureate reaffirmed the importance of intellectual and spiritual engagement in reviving African culture, Professor Abimbola, a renowned Yoruba scholar who joined virtually from the United States, spoke passionately about the Orisha tradition as a global spiritual system that must be preserved and respected.

Soyinka underscored the role of culture in defining people and nations. He described the renewed focus on cultural identity as “long overdue” and commended President Tinubu for backing the initiative, calling it “a step toward greatness and a global boost in tourism revenue and relevance.”

The press conference marked a major step in advancing Nigeria’s cultural diplomacy and highlighted WOOCON’s commitment to building bridges between Africa and its diaspora through shared heritage, spirituality, and collaboration.

WOOCON’s programme of cultural and intellectual engagements is expected to continue in the months ahead, with Nigeria taking a leading role in this global movement.