Some Yoruba traditional rulers have visited Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola to canvass support for the institutionalisation, domestication, teaching and learning of the newly discovered “Oduduwa” alphabet.
They said doing so would protect the Yoruba culture from the encroachment of Western culture and the negative consequences of modernity.
The Oduduwa alphabet is the initiative of Chief Toluwalese Oguntosin, who was also present at the occasion.
Oguntosin, whose invention was demonstrated during the meeting, said he was divinely inspired to come up with the alphabet which is fundamentally different from the English alphabet.
Led by the Olufon of Ifon-Orolu Kingdom, Oba Al-Moroof Adekunle Mogbagbeola, the monarchs noted that if the initiative is sustained, it will reconnect the Yoruba across the world.
Other monarchs at the event included the Onikoyi of Ikoyi-Ajase in Port Novo (Republic of Benin), Oba Abdul-Yekeen Ajasa Adeleye; the Owa-Ajero of Ijero-Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Adewole; the Alara of Aramoko-Ekiti, Oba Adegoke Adeyemi and the Olugbon of Igbon, Oba Francis Olu Alao.
The monarchs called for mass support for new Yoruba alphabet.
Oba Adeleye said the visit was meant to intimate the governor with the need to support the promotion of the new Oduduwa alphabet to give the Yoruba their deserved identity.
He said: “We are here to advocate the need for us as Yoruba at home and in the Diaspora, particularly those of us who fall into other countries, on the need to support the promotion, teaching and learning of the newly discovered Oduduwa alphabet.”
He hailed Aregbesola for his commitment to the promotion and advancement of African culture, tradition and values, particularly the Yoruba language.