In a bid to restore cultural values, the Ondo State government has made it mandatory for pupils and students in all schools to recite the Oodua Anthem.
The Oodua anthem projects the virtues, tradition and culture of the Yoruba tribe.
The order reportedly affects all the private and public institutions from primary to tertiary level in the state.
This was contained in a circular, on Thursday, titled ‘Recitation of Oodua Anthem in all schools’, sent to all stakeholders from the state Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.
The circular was signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Akin Asaniyan.
It read in part, “Please note that, at the just concluded inter-schools debate and award ceremony organised by Ondo State Ministry of Education Science and Technology, held on Thursday February 25, 2021, at the International Culture and Event Center ( The Dome), Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, announced that the state has adopted the Oodua Anthem and it is to be recited by the residents of the state.
“In the light (sic) of this development, Mr Governor has directed that the anthem is now compulsory in all public and private schools ( primary and secondary), as well as tertiary institutions in the state, to be recited by all students and teachers henceforth.”
The Yoruba Anthem was composed by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, as a cultural symbol of the Yoruba at home and abroad and as a call to reawaken their hearts to the rich values of the tribe.
With this development, Ondo will be the second state in the Southwest region to have adopted the Oodua anthem for students.
Osun, during the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, will go down in history as the first state to have made the move in the Southwest.
