The Oyo State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun, has honoured the founder of West Midlands Communications Limited and the Ekerin Olubadan of Ibadan land, His Royal Majesty, Oba Muritala Adebayo Akande, MFR, with the award of Cultural Ambassador for the World Egungun Festival 2026.
The award was presented to the monarch today in his palace, located at Felele, Ibadan, during a courtesy visit led by the Commissioner and his administrative team.
According to Dr. Olatunbosun, the aim of the visit, aside from the presentation, was to inform the King of the forthcoming World Egungun Festival, slated to hold on the 1st and 2nd of May, and also to solicit his support, as is done yearly.
He added that the Egungun festival remains a cultural heritage of the Yoruba people, and preserving it remains very important to the present administration.
He disclosed that they plan to continue this festival even beyond the ongoing administration, adding that work is ongoing to get it officially enlisted certified by UNESCO as a global festival, just like the Sango Festival.
Moreover, he lauded Oba Adebayo Akande for his unrelenting support towards sustaining and projecting Yoruba culture globally.
The Ekerin Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Muritala Adebayo Akande, while welcoming the Commissioner and his team to his palace, congratulated them on the success of the previous edition and reassured them of his unwavering support even for this coming 2026 Egungun Festival.
