A tourism enthusiast and Son to former Olota of Ota, in Ogun State, Prince Adetunji Fadina, has established a museum for the preservation of Awori culture and historical legacy in Ota, Ogun state.
Fadina, also a custodian of Awori culture, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Sunday, that the museum located in Ota, would be inaugurated in January 2025.
NAN reports that the Awori, a prominent subgroup of the Yoruba people, speak a distinct dialect of the Yoruba language.
They are known as the original inhabitants of Lagos state and parts of Ogun state.
Fadina said the museum christened “Oba Timothy Oloyede Fadina Centre for Awori Art, Culture and History”, is meant to pay tribute to his late father’s legacies and other past occupiers of the Olota throne.
He maintained that the museum would serve as a veritable platform to educate visitors on the significance of Awori’s contributions to Nigerian history.
According to him, it will foster cultural awareness and appreciation through interactive exhibitions and programmes, as well as provide a platform for community engagement and cultural exchange.
“The inspiration behind the Oba Timothy Oloyede Fadina Centre for Awori Art, Culture and History is anchored on a strategic vision to authentically tell our story, preserving and celebrating the uniqueness of the Awori heritage brand.
“Drawing from the rich experiences of cultural preservation efforts in South Africa and Gambia, the centre is designed to leave a lasting legacy.
“A legacy that would educate and immerse future generations in the values, history, and cultural pride of the Awori people.
“The centre stands as a lasting tribute to my father, Oba Timothy Oloyede Fadina, ensuring that the Awori heritage is celebrated and sustained.
“It is a deliberate investment in the cultural future of our people, built to resonate deeply and endure for generations to come,” he said.
Fadina noted that the museum would be opened to the public for a dry run in December 2024, before its eventual opening in January 2025.
Speaking on the content of the museum, Fadina disclosed that the historical fact of the four divisions of the Awori kingdom would be on display.
He listed the four division to include ”Otun” , “Osi”, “Ijana” and “Oruba”.
“In our bid to promote our local cuisines like Omoyo, Dundu-cocoa and more, we have earmarked a local kitchen within the centre, where those cuisines can be prepared for tourists’ delight.
“The second building will be the VIP lounge and it would be a virtual office where international tourists can lodge and it will have a 3D format of the entire content of the museum.
“In the next five years, I want the United States to identify with the Awori kingdom, so, we are starting with the national.
“Also in here, is the Dinat Institute, which would be offering catering, hospitality and tourism courses, this is done to deliberately invest in capacity building for our youths.
“The Dinat Institute is affiliated with the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR). Already 20 students have registered for some courses and it will also kick off in January 2025,” he said.
Fadina explained that Awori songs like Agasha, that captures the spirit and stories of the Awori people would bring the Awori history to life right in the museum.
He said even beyond preserving historical knowledge, the centre would provide an authentic sensory experience.
The NAN correspondent who visited the edifice, observed the museum to be two duplex buildings, which accommodate some cultural relics peculiar to Awori kingdom as well as paintings and sculptural materials by renowned Awori artistes.
The museum is adorned with pictorial materials of previous Olota of Ota and other kings across Awori communities in Lagos and Ogun states.
There is also the Hall of Fame section, where those who had contributed in no small measure to the growth of the Awori Kingdom, were exhibited.
Among those on the hall of fame were: Chief Michael Olawale-Cole, former President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State.
Various designs of traditional crowns associated with Awori traditional institution were also on display.