The Dapo Abiodun-led administration has said it will continue to promote religious tolerance and ensure peaceful co-existence among various adherents in the state.

Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Oluwasesan Fagbayi, stated this during the 2024 ‘Isese’ Day celebration held in Abeokuta on Tuesday.

Fagbayi maintained that celebrating the rich cultural heritage and traditions, giving necessary support to traditional institutions, as well as enhancing the promotion of Indigenous tradition would preserve Yoruba traditional religion.

The Commissioner represented by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Quudus Yusuff, noted that the colourful display by different traditional religious sects at the celebration was proof that the Day was worthy of being recognised as an international event, to attract tourists across the globe, thereby enhancing the tourism potential of the state.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Ogun State Alternative Medicine Board, OGAMB, who is also the Alawoerin of Egbaland, Chief Nurudeen Olaleye, enjoined all traditional worshippers across the country to use the occasion to pray for peace, unity and stability of the state and the country in general.

Speaking on the theme of the event, “Vengeance”, at Oke-Abola mountain, Saje, Abeokuta, the guest lecturer, Ojubona Akanbi, admonished people to desist from taking vengeance as the consequences were usually destructive and could hinder progress, adding that love and unity among people would prevent people from hurting others.

He charged youths to avoid acts capable of disrupting the peace and progress of the society, tasking them to add their quota to the development of the state and the nation.

Akonitv reports that August 20 was declared ‘Isese’ Day in some Western states to celebrate the Yoruba traditional religion and traditions since 2023 and is being observed simultaneously across all states in the southwest.