The apex Urhobo socio-cultural group, Urhobo Progress Union, UPU (Asia) has called on Urhobo sons and daughters all over the world to endeavour to develop and sustain the Urhobo culture for sustainable unity.
President, UPU (Asia), Comrade Ejiroghene Omonemu, who made this call in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in his welcome address during the Urhobo Cultural Day Celebration, commended members for investing their funds and time to sustain the union which is a binding force for all.
He said, “It has become common place to say and hear: ‘Westernisation is the greatest constraint to the impetus of cultural development in Africa and amongst Africans,’ which the Urhobo is an integral part of.”
Omonemu noted that the above fact pervades omnipotently in their minds the increasingly serious situation relating to the general apathy the Urhobo people pay to their cultural values, lingua and things that distinct them as Urhobos.
He commended the UPU executive led by Olorogun Moses Taiga for accepting their invitation to convene the Cultural Day celebration in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Omonemu said, “Indeed this gathering could provide a veritable platform, practical guidelines for our Cultural Renaissance.
“It is an opportune time to renew contacts and discuss problems of mutual interest with members of UPU and friends of UPU across ASIA.
“It is gratifying to note that the agenda of this gathering deals with our core values, our totality which is what culture is about.
“No matter how much we say, as like this and how much we can do by ourselves as UPU (ASIA), whether be it seminars or dinners, it is never enough.
“In the true spirit of co-operation, we URHOBOS in this region of the world, are proud of setting the pace for all other ethnic groups and cultures in Asia, must join in an action-oriented effort to attack and solve the problem that currently beset our culture.
“This event is about commemorating our culture. Culture creates and develop identities. God could have made us in any shape and amongst any other tribes, but He choose to make us like this and as URHOBOS, then there must be something special about all of us here today, God does not make mistakes.”
