Emmanuel Alayande University of Education (EAUED), Oyo, will on Tuesday inaugurate the Alaafin Institute of Yoruba Studies, a new academic centre established to promote research, preserve Yoruba cultural heritage and deepen scholarship on Yoruba civilisation.
The university said the institute, described as the first of its kind in a teacher-training institution in Nigeria, is part of its commitment to advancing indigenous knowledge systems and strengthening the teaching of Yoruba history, language and culture.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the institution’s Media and Public Relations Officer, Wale Adeoye, the university said the inauguration would be held at its 1,500-seat auditorium under the theme, “Preserving the Past, Educating the Future: The Renaissance of Yoruba Intellectualism.”
According to the statement, the institute is expected to serve as a hub for research, documentation and intellectual engagement on Yoruba heritage while fostering collaborations among scholars, cultural institutions and policymakers.
Renowned historian, Professor Toyin Falola of the University of Texas at Austin, will deliver the keynote address, while the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, will serve as the Royal Father of the Day.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Olanrewaju Olaniyan, is the Chief Host, while the Director of the institute, Professor Akinkunmi Alao, will host the event.
Other scholars expected at the inauguration include Professor Ademola Bewaji Dasilva, Professor Sola Olorunyomi and Professor Arinpe Gbekelolu Adejumo, who will serve as discussants.
The university said the institute would contribute to the preservation of Yoruba cultural identity through research, teaching and documentation, while positioning Yoruba intellectual traditions within contemporary global scholarship.
It added that the inauguration would bring together academics, cultural enthusiasts, traditional rulers and members of the public to explore strategies for safeguarding Yoruba heritage for future generations.
