Ambali wants indigenous culture sustained

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof AbdulGaniyu Ambali, has called on elders in the society to ensure the sustenance of the nation's traditions and ways of life by inculcating our rich cultural values in the younger generation.
Prof. Ambali made the call last Wednesday (May 7, 2014) when he received the popular Yoruba folklorist and renowned Ijala poet, Chief Alabi Ogundepo, who visited him in his office, pointing out that “our culture and ways of life would soon become history if conscious steps are not taken to pass them on to our children.”
Chief Ogundepo, who is also the Gbobaniyi of Shaki, Oyo State, and Chief Executive Officer of Alabi Ogundepo Kultural Organization (AOKO), Osogbo, was in the University at the instance of the Department of the Performing Art for a three-day dance training workshop it held for its undergraduate and postgraduate students.

The Vice-Chancellor said, “We don't want our culture and tradition to die, that is why we have invited someone of your experience to help us through this workshop. We want to learn from you. We are glad to receive you. People like you are scarce but we want to have more of you. Our lecturers' work would be enhanced by your experience”.
In his brief remarks, Chief Ogundepo stressed the importance of transferring traditional and cultural values to the younger generation, saying, “We will lose our history if we don't teach our children our culture”.
Introducing the traditional poet to the Vice-Chancellor earlier, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Prof. Ayo Akinwale, described Chief Ogundepo as an embodiment of several talents and a “Senior Artist of Nigeria” (SAN).
Prof. Akinwale thanked the University management for its support that made it possible to bring the artist to the University.
            Later at the opening session of the dance training workshop, Prof. Ambali also enjoined parents to endeavour to inculcate indigenous norms and cultural values in their children as a way of nurturing them into becoming responsible adults and good citizens of the country.
The Vice-Chancellor noted that given the prevailing moral decadence and security challenges in the country, it was expedient that parents and guardians spend more time with their children to restore the age-long, result-yielding cultural values that ensured the inculcation of moral values in children.
Prof. Ambali, who appreciated Chief Ogundepo for leading members of his organisation to the University, described the dance training workshop as an avenue for the students to appreciate the rich Yoruba cultural values.