The Oba of Lagos, His Royal Majesty Oba Riliwanu Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu I, has called on the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture to take immediate action over concerns of cultural misrepresentation raised against an exhibition titled “An Owambe Exhibition” organized by Uzo Njoko.
In a letter dated September 24, 2025, and addressed to the Honourable Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, and copied to Mr. Idris Aregbe, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Tourism, the monarch directed that the ministry should review and act on a petition submitted by the Yoruba Youth Council.
The petition, dated September 22, 2025, expressed strong reservations about the exhibition’s portrayal of Yoruba cultural practices, alleging misrepresentation and distortion of cultural heritage.
According to the letter signed from the palace of Iga Idunganran, the Oba instructed the ministry to “take appropriate action on this matter” to avoid any form of disturbance or unrest within Lagos State and its environs.
Furthermore, Oba Akiolu urged the ministry to review existing policies, rules, and regulations governing public exhibitions and cultural showcases to ensure that all cultural events are subject to proper approval and oversight before being allowed to take place.
The palace also indicated that copies of the correspondence would be sent to key stakeholders, including the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, the Area Commander of Area “A” Command Headquarters, and the leadership of the Yoruba Youth Council, for their awareness and record-keeping.
The Yoruba Youth Council’s petition was signed by its President, Mr. Olanrewaju Eboda Olakotan, and Secretary, Mr. Odulola Omotola.
This development comes amid growing discussions about safeguarding the authenticity of Yoruba cultural expressions in art, fashion, and media, particularly in a city often described as the heartbeat of Nigeria’s creative economy.