In a notable event, the Chief Executive Officer of Ilaji Hotel & Sports Resorts and Proprietor of ICAST, Chief Engr Dr (SIR) Dotun Sanusi, was honored with an award of excellence by Asa Day Worldwide Incorporated, Canada.
The recognition lauds his significant contributions to the preservation and propagation of Yoruba culture. The ceremony, led by Prince Joel Olaniyi Oyatoye, the founder and president of Asa Day, celebrated Chief Dotun Sanusi’s steadfast dedication to cultural heritage.
Dotun Sanusi who is also the JAGUN Olubadan of Ibadanland noted that culture and governance cannot be separated because a people’s culture is essential to governing them. He also stressed that one of the reasons the result Nigerians desired has been eluding them is because the government and governing style is so much hinged on borrowed culture and that there’s no way we can continue using borrowed cultures and have the results that we so much desired.
He said, “When you’re talking about governance, you can not separate culture from governance. You cannot use a borrowed culture and get your desired result. We have relied so much on borrowed culture and that’s one of the reasons we are not seeing results.”
“So the government in Nigeria today must not just rely on Western values but they must also look deep into our own culture and make use of the values and I can boldly say that we would get the results that we so much desired.”
Chief Sanusi also commended the founder of Asa Day Worldwide, Prince Joel Olaniyi Oyatoye on his efforts to see the Yoruba culture become a global culture while urging him and his team not to relent but to do more. He stressed that Prince Oyatoye’s efforts have not gone unnoticed with the Yoruba culture getting well promoted in countries like Brazil, Cuba, etc.
“Baba Asa and his team have been doing a fantastic job in the area of promoting our culture in Canada and all over the world. I just want to say that they need to do more so that our culture and values would be a global thing.
“Baba Asa shouldn’t relent, we will surely get there. If you check well, you will see that due to the promotion, if you go to Brazil, Cuba, and some other nations, you will see that Yoruba culture is well-valued and also has a stake. So sooner or later, the whole world would soon accept the values of our culture.
“While speaking to Naijatodaynews on the reason for presenting an award of excellence to Chief Dotun Sanusi, the president and founder of Asa Day Worldwide incorporated, Canada, Prince Joel Olaniyi Oyatoye said that Chief Dotun Sanusi has been a very good promoter of the Yoruba culture and this can be seen in the various cultural activities that he has been involved in.
He noted that the Jagun Olubadan doesn’t just use his mouth but he also uses his money and time in promoting the Yoruba cultural heritages and values which is very noticeable at his popular Ilaji resort and sports center.
He said, “The purpose of us being in Nigeria this period is to present an award to Chief Sanusi and this is because of his commitment in the community both in terms of infrastructure, in terms of cultural preservation.”If you go to his Ilaji resort, you will see that he did a lot of things at that place to preserve our cultural heritage and he has been involved in several cultural activities and cultural events. He’s spending his money and also using his time to support everything that has to do with cultural activities.
“So as a result of that, we need to encourage people like that in our society and that is one of the reasons we gave him an award of Excellence Performance.’Last week, we were at the Osun State Government House. We presented the same award to His Excellency, the Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke. So things like this are to let people know that their activities and their involvement in the community are not overlooked.
“We see them, even all the way from Canada, we see the activities and we need to encourage people like that.”Mr Oyatoye who is fondly called Baba Asa thus urged Nigerians especially Yoruba people to embrace the Yoruba culture and not allow it to be eroded. He urged the Yoruba people not to take the issue of culture as a comedy but to ensure that the Yoruba culture doesn’t fade away because of westernization.”Sometimes we need to be honest with ourselves. We cannot continue to make everything look like comedy. The truth must be told. Our culture is far behind and the reason behind it is because of Western civilization.
“I live there. I’m part of them. I know how things happen and sometimes when you see all these things, you see that it is sometimes craziness.”If people can use their own culture to civilize us, it means that we are the ones who fail to civilize ourselves. I always tell people, there is nothing like civilization. It is something that you never knew before and you now became aware of what we can call civilization.
“If they bring for you their heritage, you also give something back to them, that is what we call cultural diversity. That’s what we refer to as the exchanging of culture.”Cultures have to work together. Cultures shouldn’t segregate. A culture should not condemn the other culture, they should work together.
“When people say civilization is what we need to follow. So what happened to the one we have been using before? Is it outdated? Okay, if you feel like it is outdated, what can we do to refine it? Or what can we do to preserve it? What can we do to make it blend with the current status of the society? So that is where we need to address our people so that they don’t condemn our culture or language.”Not only Yoruba culture, but every other culture needs to be celebrated. Every other culture needs to be embraced. Every other culture needs to be showcased.
The same way we are embracing other cultures and other civilizations, the same way we need to embrace our cultural heritage, our language, and everything that symbolizes our culture”, Baba Asa said.
Chief Dotun Sanusi used the occasion to deliver a compelling message to leaders across Nigeria, emphasizing the indispensable relationship between culture and governance. He highlighted the pitfalls of relying solely on borrowed cultures, attributing the nation’s elusive desired outcomes to this practice. Chief Sanusi stressed the imperative for Nigerian leaders to draw upon indigenous cultural values for effective governance, asserting that doing so would yield favorable results.
Acknowledging the global influence of Yoruba culture, Chief Sanusi commended Prince Oyatoye and his team for their tireless efforts in promoting Yoruba heritage, which has garnered acclaim in nations such as Brazil and Cuba.
In further response, Prince Oyatoye also praised Chief Sanusi’s multifaceted contributions to cultural preservation, noting his financial investments and active participation in cultural activities. He emphasized the importance of recognizing individuals like Chief Sanusi, whose endeavors drive community development through cultural preservation.
Prince Oyatoye urged Nigerians, particularly the Yoruba community, to safeguard their cultural heritage against the encroachment of Western influences. He advocated for cultural diversity and mutual respect among cultures as indispensable elements of societal advancement.
Both Chief Sanusi and Prince Oyatoye underscored the significance of embracing and promoting Nigeria’s cultural diversity alongside other civilizations. They emphasized the need for cultural synergy and mutual appreciation to foster societal progress and development.
In conclusion, the event served as a platform to celebrate the JAGUN Olubadan of Ibadanland, Chief Engr Dr (SIR) Dotun Sanusi’s exemplary efforts in promoting Yoruba culture and advocate for the preservation and appreciation of Nigeria’s rich cultural diversity.