By TAIYE OLAYEMI

Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ooni of Ife, on Tuesday bagged the Centre for Black Arts and Africa Civilisation (CBAAC) and Festival for Arts and Culture (FESTAC) at 45 award of excellence.

Oluwabunmi Amao, Director-General (DG), CBAAC, conferred the award on Ogunwusi during the cultural showcase, dinner and award night held in commemoration of the 45th anniversary of FESTAC, in Abuja.

No fewer than 21 traditional rulers and members of the diplomatic communities were also conferred with similar awards for their contributions toward the promotion and propagation of African culture.

Amao said that the Ooni of Ife was known to have transformed the ancient city of Ile-Ife to a tourist site.

She said the traditional ruler was also a peace builder par excellence as he successfully restored peace between his office and that of the Alafin of Oyo after many years of institutional discord.

The DG said Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, had also been noted to be a strong advocate of cultural integration and unity and as such deserved such an award.

She said the Emir of Zazzau, Ahmed Bamalli, had placed the peace and unity of his subjects over everything.

According to her, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, had remained passionate about education as a fundamental factor in national development.

She said the traditional ruler had also set up a manpower development trust fund in his community to help indigent students in their academic pursuit.

According to her, that was a remarkable move by a traditional ruler.

She noted that the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, is seen as a great lover of arts and custodian of the traditional heritage of Nupe people which he projects within and outside Nigeria.

She said the Olubadan of Ibadan, Senator Moshood Balogun’s reign had brought about remarkable peace and progress to Ibadan land in Oyo state.

According to her, the Dein of Agbor Kingdom, Benjamin Ikenchukwu I, is known as a champion of peace, security and unity in his kingdom and beyond.

She noted that the Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom, Oba Frederick Akinruntan, over the years had been able to unite his people and encourage peace among his subjects.

Amao said that late Nelson Mandela was an African nationalist and socialist who focused on dismantling the apartheid regime and foster racial reconciliation.

Other recipients of the awards are: Oba Olusola Alao, the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon; Goge Africa; Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning; Mrs Omotayo Omotosho, a tourism consultant and Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Awardees from the diplomatic community include: Clara Culido-Escandel, the Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, and Dr Yanko Yordanov, the Bulgarian Ambassador to Nigeria.

Recipients from the creative industry are: Chief Nike Davies-Okundaye, Founder, Nike Arts Gallery; Aralola Olumuyiwa, Cultural Ambassador to Ife Kingdom, and Nollywood Actor, Ramsey Nouah. (NAN)

•PHOTO: Dein of Agbor Kingdom, Benjamin Ikenchukwu receiving his award from Minister of Information and Culture and Director-General, CBAAC during the commomeration ceremony of 45th anniversary of FESTAC, held in Abuja

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