The Traditional Religion Worshippers’ Association has stressed the importance of incorporating traditional religious knowledge into the educational system during their recent statement.
They called upon both Federal and State Governments to establish schools dedicated to teaching traditional religious practices alongside mainstream subjects.
Fayemi Fakayode, the Secretary of the Oyo State branch, urged for the inclusion of traditional religious knowledge in primary and secondary school curricula, akin to Islamic Religious Knowledge and Christian Religious Knowledge.
Fakayode, speaking from Ibadan, the state capital, highlighted the necessity of educating the younger generation about Yoruba culture and tradition.
He noted the essence of dispelling misconceptions surrounding Yoruba history and heritage through proper education. Fakayode lamented the prevalent miseducation of Africans about their roots, which has contributed to inaccurate perceptions of traditional religion.
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The secretary, who is the Founder of Olodumare’s Temple of Light International, said, “We made this call during the installation of two Brazilians, Awoyomi Fakayode and Iyanifa Ifatayo Obemo as Mayegun and Yeye Mayegun of Ìjọ Ìmọ́lẹ̀ Olódùmarè Àgbáyé, respectively, on Sunday at Alade Town in the Akinyele Local Government Area of the state.
“The time has come for both the Federal and State Governments to include TRK as a subject in the primary and secondary school curriculum, like they have the IRK and CRK, respectively. There is a need for proper education to impart to the younger generations the needed knowledge of our traditions and religion.
“Also, there is a need to equip the younger generations with culturally based knowledge which will make them useful for themselves and their land as well as implanting in them the spirit of patriotism that will make them unyielding to the spirit of betraying their ancestors.
“We call on the traditionalists to start making efforts to establish this subject in our primary and secondary schools, while the Federal and State Governments will give it the needed support by approving its inclusion in the school’s syllabus and curriculum.”
He added that with the implementation of TRK, future generations would no longer be subjected to teachings about their religion, culture, traditions, and history by outsiders or individuals from different faiths who have misrepresented their beliefs to entice them away.
