Alaafin praises Odu’a group for upholding culture

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, has lauded the efforts of the management of Odua’a Investment Company Limited for upholding the Yoruba heritage in the structure of the company.  He also hailed what he described as the leadership position that the conglomerate occupied in the nation’s economy.

The monarch spoke on Wednesday when he visited the firm’s corporate headquarters in Ibadan.

The monarch said, “I am happy to note that Odu’a, which started business on October 1, 1976, has become one of the biggest companies in Nigeria and has been operating as a conglomerate, with 70 per cent of its business as joint venture with reputable multinational companies.

“I want to specially commend the  management of the company for rekindling Yoruba arts  and heritage because a race that forgets its culture will soon reach the point of extinction.

“It is also my pride that the company established as a dynamic conglomerate continues to make forays into new business ventures in order to create  employment for our young and bright graduates of various disciplines.”

The Group Managing Director of the company, Adebayo Jimoh, said Odu’a had not failed to uphold the objectives for which it was established.

He said, “The board and management of the company have continued to add value to our patrimony called Odu’a in so many ways. Odu’a Museum and Hall of Fame was inaugurated in April 2013 by Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka.

“The project was conceptualised to reflect a memory of classical gird of history, technology, people and culture as they relate to occupation and ingenuity of the past.”

The firm’s Chairman, Isaac Akintade, said he was delighted with the Alaafin’s visit, adding that the company had continued to grow since its creation.