In line with the orientation of PCMs in the NYSC programme, Oba Taiwo Abdulrazak Adeboye the Alawo of Awo in Egbedore LGA, gave a lecture on the history, language and overall traditions of the Yoruba people at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Ede, on Monday.
He encouraged the 2022 Batch C Stream 1 PCMs of other tribes to learn the Yoruba language and greetings as this knowledge is needed to integrate and interact with the Yoruba people in their various host communities for a more fulfilling service year.
Speaking further, Oba Adeboye enlightened the PCMs on the various cultural differences in religion, greetings and taboos. He stated that the Awo land originated from the events that happened centuries ago when the king was instructed by the Ifa oracle to travel and settle on the land where his horse dies hence the name Awo meaning Esinwo.
The Oba pointed to respect as a top tier value in Yoruba heritage advising PCMs to imbibe the core values and thereafter teaching them a handful of greeting patterns of the Yorubas. He also shed some light on how the Yoruba greets, stating that the males greet by prostrating while the females kneel.
He further elucidated on the Yoruba marriage highlighting the use of intermediaries in the olden days as opposed to the declining principles in the wake of modern civilization.
He took them through some of the various aspects of Yoruba culture such as dressing, dance steps, greetings for different occasions, amongst others.
Oba Taiwo further admonished the Corps Members to be law abiding and adhere to the rules and regulations of their host communities where they would be posted to.
The Kabiyesi had an interactive session with the PCMs asking the non Yoruba PCMs to recite greetings, words and numbers during the brief period of the lecture.
Highlights of the events included the reading of the profile of the Oba by the State Coordinator, Mrs Olayinka Abdulwahab; presentation of gifts to His Royal Majesty who in turn showered royal blessings on the Prospective Corps members and gave cash gifts to all the platoons and Corps Members who entertained him.
