The Permanent Chairman of the Southern Nigerian Traditional Rulers Council (SNTRC), Arole Oodua Olofin Adimula and the Natural Head of the Oduduwa race worldwide, the Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, has expressed profound appreciation to the Government and people of Alberta, Canada, for their warm hospitality and unwavering support, while reaffirming his commitment to strengthening cultural ties between the Palace of the Ooni and African diaspora communities across Canada.
Delivering the speech on behalf of the Ooni, his Director of Media and Public Affairs, Otunba Moses Olafare, during the historic Oodua Global Concert held on Friday, June 26, 2026, at the prestigious Jack Singer Concert Hall, Werklund Centre, Calgary, Alberta. The event was hosted by the Okin International Cultural Association Canada, Addressing guests at the gathering.
Otunba Olafare conveyed the Ooni’s heartfelt gratitude to the Alberta Provincial Government and the people for their kindness, hospitality and support extended to the royal delegation who were there to represent the Ooni.
Olafare particularly conveyed the Ooni’s appreciation to the Premier of Alberta
H.E, Danielle Smith for her thoughtful welcome letter earlier extended to the palace of the Ooni, he also praised Minister Rajan Sawhney for her exceptional efforts in assisting the delegation with protocol-related matters, describing their support as one that “went above and beyond.”
Otunba Olafare however, explained that some unresolved protocol challenges, which were beyond the control of the Alberta Provincial Government, regrettably prevented the Ooni from travelling with his full entourage to attend the event in person.
Baba would have loved to be here in person today, but certain protocol mishaps have made it impossible. Despite this development and because of his love for his subjects across the world to always answer the calls by his subjects globally, the Arole Oodua had ensured to be ably represented by high powered delegation comprising members of Ife Royal Family and a senior Palace manager assuring the people of Alberta and members of the African, Caribbean and multicultural communities particularly members of Yoruba community in Alberta, Canada that the Palace remains committed to visiting the province as soon as the outstanding issues are resolved.
While charging Yoruba sons and daughters residing in Alberta province of Canada, Otunba Olafare, extended greetings of the Ooni to all the Oduduwa descendants in Alberta particularly a Calgary, Canada based practicing medical practitioner Dr. Akin Osakuade for his love for his race and country Nigeria and for his vision and dedication in sponsoring and organising the event; The Oodua Concert in Calgary, commending the Nigerian Canadian Association of Calgary, the Yoruba Foundation of Calgary and Edmonton, the Okin Cultural Association and other cultural organisations whose collective efforts ensured the success of the concert.
He commended the efforts Dr Akin Osakuade, Joshua Apesinola Mrs Kemi Adeyemi, Caribbean National, Derick Obafemi Greer and other members of the planning committee for their painstaking efforts at putting the event together for the happiness and continued togerness of descendants of Oduduwa residing in Calgary and other parts of Alberta, Canada.
"Upon the coronation and installation of our father as the current Arole Oodua in the year 2015, Baba Ooni swung into action by implementing his 11 point Agenda designed for his progressive reign on the throne of Oduduwa starting from Cultural Revolution which of course included bringing Africans in diaspora home with a view to familiarizing them to Ile-Ife being the source and traditional headquarter of the Black heritage globally. He went to the US in May 2016 to speak at the Afro-Caribean Summit which held at the White House in Washington, he was two months later invited and honoured by the British Royal Family at the Buckingham Palace hosted by then Prince Charles now king Charles and his brother Prince Andrew with their respective spouses, later same year, he was given Presidential invitation to visit Ghana hosted by President John Mahama at the State House in Accra and Ashantene of Kumasi Otumpfor Ossei Tutu the king at his palace in Kumasi where he declared the Ooni as "The New Face of Pan-Africanism". Fellow countrymen, all of these visits happened shortly after becoming the Ooni. Let me say that, a lot of efforts like these have been made by the Arole Oodua aimed at rallying all of you his subjects globally. In fact, this would have been his 4th visit to Canada just that his previous visits to this country had been to Toronto and Ottawa. I assure you all that when next he needs to visit you in the city of Calgary or even Alberta province at large, Baba Ooni will not hesitate to come as what he enjoys most is visiting you all across the globe." Otunba Olafare said.
The Ooni further thanked the organisers and attendees for their patience, understanding and continued goodwill, expressing optimism that his future visit would further deepen the bonds of friendship, cultural cooperation and mutual respect between the House of Oduduwa and African diaspora communities in Canada.
The AfroHippop legend; Adekunle Gold was given the stage to performed and the entire arena was serenaded via his live music to the absolute enjoyment of our sons and daughters particularly the young ones who not only sang along the ace Hip-hop legend but also dance ceaselessly.
The delegation; Sooko Laekun of Ife\Head of the princes of Ife, Prince Adegboyega Ogunwusi, another sibling of the Ooni, Princess Foladade Ogunwus-Fadairo and Ooni's Director of Media and Public Affairs; Otunba Moses Olafare, who were later in the subsequent days driven to the mountainous city of Banffs to enjoy the nature as evidenced through the tourism of Alberta province in Canada returned to Nigeria on Wednesday enroute Washington DC.
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