By SUNNY OKIM

In a bid to preserve and promote Yoruba culture, the Yoruba World Congress (YWC), led by emeritus professor and leader, Banji Akintoye, has unveiled plans for the YWC Global Library.

In a chat withNews Express,the YWC Secretary General, Prof Anthony Kila said the library will have two parts: Brick and Mortar Libraries in various parts of the world starting from Ibadan and Lagos and the digital library that everyone can access and at any time anywhere in the world.

“To manage the project, the YWC has put together a team of experts who are academics, IT practitioners, education managers and lovers of Yoruba culture,” said Kila.

The project will be led by a steering committee to be chaired Prof Ajayi-Soyinka while Dr Pat Akinbola will serve as secretary.

Others members of the steering committee are: Princess Olayinka Adebayo, Mr Babafemi Odutayo (Esq), Dr Sunkanmi Odejide and Mr Luke Tikare.

In his address to steering the committee, Prof Anthony Kila stated that the lofty aims of YWC include conserving and promoting Yoruba arts, language, history, cosmogony, literature etc.

The project, according to Kila, will help put Yoruba people and culture on the world map and also put libraries in the people’s mind.

Prof Kila also noted that to make the YWC Global Library a success, all hands must be on deck and asked all Yoruba people come up with what they can offer the project.

“We shall need suggestion of list of books, journals, art work etc as well as donation of funds and ideas on how to maintain the best Yoruba library in the world.

“To participate and donate to the YWC Global Library Project, all are urged to visit the websitewww.yorubaworldcongress.org,” he added.