Being a Speech Delivered by Ifemosu Michael Adewale xyz5 Elder Fatika on the first occasion of Eldersis Jara, Today Sunday, December 16 2018, at the Nigerian Railway Station, Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria.
Nigerian is a country endowed with a lot of cultural heritages sourced from its multicultural communities.
Contemporary status of most Nigerian cultural heritages (both material and non-material) is best described as endangered.
Efforts at preserving these heritages are obstructed with daunting challenges, particularly human activities such as trafficking and exportation of Nigerian arts, thefts and looting of museums, vandalism, iconoclasm, Christianity, civilization, commerce, change, and developmental projects among others.
Hence, the clarion call for its preservation due to avalanche of prospects derived from an adequately preserved cultural heritage.
Globally the importance of heritages to countries and even in developing nations like Nigeria cannot be over-emphasized.
This is due to its economic, historical, tourist, aesthetic, educational and research significance.
For a critical and comprehensive understanding of Nigerian Cultural heritages, the approach adopted.
Heritages are cherished characteristic features of a society passed down from generation to generation through conscious preservation.
Heritages refer to the riches of extinct and extant societies which are of historic, educational, recreational, and economic importance, preserved and handed over from one generation to another.
Put differently, heritages are significant endowments emanating from man and nature.
Following from the above, heritages could be categorized into two, based on their sources namely: ecological/natural heritages and cultural heritages.
Kegite Club International, A Socio-Cultural group meant to promote African culture in and around the confines of an higher institution of learning can be best described as the bane and major paradigm support for the growth of African Culture.
Over 60% of the population in Nigeria is dominated by students in higher institution and this is a clear description that the existence of Kegite Club International has promoted the most cherished African Culture through their gatherings and meetings.
The Cultural heritage which is meant to make man live in peace and love with themselves, teaches respect and utmost belief in the supremacy and existence of God and so many other solid African Cultural Heritage.
The existence of the Kegite Club International in our higher institutions has helped in promoting the Nation in all ramifications by breeding intellectual Youths and Great Personalities who has once held leadership and administrative positions in Nigeria.
In the Leadership Positions of the club, they refer to the head of the club as Chief which literally means African Style of Leadership is Summarized totally into the activities of the Club.
However, the Development of any Nation can best be implemented by making sure Young minds are introduced to the ethics, norms and beliefs that has said to be in Vogue even before they (Youths) were Born, in this regard Kegite Club International has helped sustain the long and lasting Cultural Heritage needed for the Development of a Nation called Nigeria.
Kegite Club International has helped in producing personalities of timbers and calibers who had once in their life contributed to the Development of Nigeria, they have made sure NIGERIA becomes a better place because of the norms and ethics they have help imbibe when they were undergraduates of different institution of learning.
The Bane behind the establishment of Kegite Club International is to make sure the pure African Mentality of having respect for elders, law abiding, and service to Humanity depicts that indeed it was established on a good and solid foundation, no little wonder it has remained the vast Socio-Cultural club that cut across nations now.
Researchers has made us believe that Human Development starts from a very tender Age, invariably most of the lessons are taught directly or indirectly at the higher institution level which Kegite Club International has reigned supremely.
It is imperative and sacrosanct to let the general public know that the need for Government Parastatals, Institution Heads, Religious Bodies and Parents/Guardian to be highly supportive to the growth and development of the club is highly essential as the club has suffered a great set back due to lack of encouragement.
The Main Influence the Kegite Club International make on Students who later becomes Leaders, Developers and Influencers is to shun Cultism and fight it to Stand still and so far so good, it has helped but there is a need for collective fighting to make sure we abolish it (Cultism) completely from our System.
Eminent and Prominent Personalities ranging from former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Prof Wole Soyinka, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu (Governor of Ondo State), H.I.M Adeyeye Ogunwusi (Ooni of Ife), Peter Fatomilola ( Nollywood Vast Actor), former President of Tanzania, Orji Uzor Kalu e.t.c have always remain Worthy of emulation due to the teachings and dealings Kegite Club International has done in making them a Better person to themselves, and the Society at Large.
Unity in Diversity remains the Sole watchword of KCI and that has made them identify with members from different part of the Nation and it has helped in fostering Peace and Tranquility amidst them.
Finally, if the beliefs of our founding fathers needs to be sustained and preserved, the need for massive support towards the growth and development of Kegite Club International should be a top most priority to each and every one of us all.
The Real Culture that transcends all spheres is Naturally from Africa, basically from Nigeria, and majorly from the Southwest region of Nigeria.
May Our Unity always remain in Diversity.
Ifemosu Michael Adewale is an Elder of Kegite Club International (Ilya du Fatika 12/13), Founder Youth In Good Governance Initiative YIGGI,
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