The Olowu of the Kuta, Oba Adekunle Oyelude, on Tuesday, challenged government at all levels, academic scholars and relevant stakeholders to fish out misfits among traditional rulers in Nigeria in the interest of posterity and sustenance of cultural heritage.

He also emphasised the need to explore culture as a tool rebrand Nigeria’s image globally, just as he decried the projection of the nation’s image in negative perspective by the international media.

Speaking during the 14th Toyin Falola International Conference (TOFAC) on Africa and African Diaspora, titled “African Cultural Creativity and Innovation”, which was hosted by the Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Osogbo, Oba Oyelude stated, “Within the traditional institution don’t shy away. Some of us thought we can be on the throne and change the goal post halfway. No.”

He said, “we are installed culturally and we don’t have any role articulated by the Chieftaincy Law than being traditional ruler for maintenance of tradition and culture. We have a lot of cultural misfits among us. Please help us to fish them out and correct it because of posterity.

Oba Oyelude added, “This project of UNESCO partnering with the University of Texas in Austin and Osun State University (UNIOSUN) is not a small feat. It is something to reckon with worldwide in using culture to reshape our image worldwide.

Earlier in his address, the Vice Chancellor of UNIOSUN, Professor Odunayo Clement Adebooye, expressed optimism that the resolutions and communiques developed during the conference will lead to fruitful future collaborations and innovative solutions to culture-related issues in Nigeria and Africa at large.

Also speaking, Professor Toyin Falola, from the University of Texas in Austin, United States, in whose honour the conference was named, underscored the need for African continent to ensure the preservation and sustenance of its culture.

Describing culture as a catalyst for creativity and basis for identity, the don noted that “in a continent as diverse as Africa with more than 3,000 ethnic groups, a thousand languages, and countless philosophies, culture serves as the institution that helps us make sense of our differences.”

Meanwhile, some traditional rulers were honoured with the presentation of awards by UNIOSUN during the conference. The monarchs include the Olowu of Kuta, Oba Adekunle Oyelude, Orangun of Oke Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarin, Eburu of Iba, Oba Adekunle Adeogun-Okunoye, among others.