The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Traditional Religion

  • ‘Include traditional religion in schools’

    ‘Include traditional religion in schools’

    Association of African Tradition Religion Practitioners of Nigeria (AATREN) has urged governments to integrate African traditional religion into the school curriculum.

    President, Ifasegun Elegushi, Opemoluwa of Ikate, reiterated importance of educating children about their cultural heritage.

    Elegushi urged President Bola Tinubu and National Assembly to recognise August 20 as a national holiday for traditional worshippers. He proposed a national traditional religion commission, like Hajj and Christian Pilgrims Commissions.

    Read Also: Govt to probe damaged groins at Lagos coastline

    He praised Southwest governors for declaring August 20 a holiday to celebrate Isese Day, and Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as well as regional leaders for their support.

    Elegushi stressed significance of African traditional religion as a foundational practice, and highlighted the role of education in preserving and promoting cultural heritage.

    “It is essential for our growth and unity to acknowledge and educate future generations about their roots,” he noted.

  • ‘Include Traditional Religion in school curriculum’

    ‘Include Traditional Religion in school curriculum’

    A traditionalist, Dr. Fayemi Fakayode, has urged the government to include Traditional Religious Knowledge in the school curriculum, to enable it to be taught as a subject, to impart Yoruba culture and tradition to the younger generation.

    He said it became necessary for proper education, to disabuse the minds of children and youths about Yoruba history and antecedent.

    Fakayode said miseducation of Africans about their origin and culture led to wrong perceptions about their traditional religion.

    Read Also: Power sector worse off 12 years after privatisation – NLC

    Speaking at the installation of two Brazilians, Awoyomi Fakayode and Iyanifa Ifatayo Obemo, as the Mayegun and Yeye Mayegun of Ijọ Imole Olodumare Agbaye, Fakayode, who is also the secretary, Traditional Religion Worshippers’ Association (TRWA), Oyo State branch and founder, Olodumare’s Temple of Light International, at Alade Town, said the step would protect Yoruba culture from going into extinction.

    He said time has come for the state and federal governments to include Traditional Religious Knowledge as a subject in the primary and secondary school curriculum, as it was done for Islamic Religious Knowledge and Christian Religious Knowledge.

    He added: “There is the need for proper education to impart to the younger generations, the needed knowledge of our tradition and religion.”