The Oyo State government has announced ambitious plans to elevate the annual World Twin Festival to international prominence, with the goal of securing recognition from the United Nations Educational, Scientific And Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The announcement follows the successful 2024 edition of the festival, held in Igboora, Ibarapa Central Local Government.
Speaking at the commemorative event on Saturday, October 12, with the theme: Twinning for Love, Unity, and National Economic Re-orientation, Governor Seyi Makinde, represented by his deputy, Barrister Bayo Lawal paid glowing tributes to the uniqueness of twin birth.
The Twin Festival is a vibrant celebration held annually in Oyo state and is dedicated to the remarkable phenomenon of twin births in not only Oyo state but the Yoruba culture.
The event features traditional dances, music, and cultural displays that highlight the significance of twins in the community, drawing participants from across the state and beyond.
I’m his words, “What we are doing today is something that is worth celebrating. You can see that we have a lot of people who came here from far and wide for this event.
“Research has shown that ten per cent of births in Igboora are twins. We should ask ourselves why it is like that. But if we know that such is what God has blessed this town with, we are supposed to guard that uniqueness jealously.
“We should also know that twins are special children from God. It is the same foods they eat here that are being eaten in other places but they have their uniqueness of multiple births in Ibarapaland.
“The Commissioner for Culture and Tourism has said a lot about this event and I want to tell you that Oyo State government is making efforts to upgrade the celebration of this event to UNESCO standard, which will make people come all the way from America, Asia and other continents of the world. So, the arrangement is ongoing.
“Also, we have to, as parents of twins, guide them well towards attaining their goals in life. I want to encourage this community, through the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, look for a parcel of land that will serve as venue for this celebration consequently. They will come and inspect and the government will give necessary support so that we won’t continue to make use of field.
“Part of what will add to the collie of this celebration is to have good road that leads to the venue of the event, which would encourage those coming for the event have a smooth experience on their way. We have flagged off Eruwa-IDO road two years back. I passed along the route and I paid attention to the current state of the road. I can assure you that we will redouble our efforts to ensure that the road is fixed quickly.”
Earlier, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatubosun expressed the commitment of the state government to promote the festival as a UNESCO-recognized annual cultural event assuring that all measures to make the celebration a global event are already being put in place.
The 2024 world twin festival showcased a variety of activities, including exhibitions, cultural dance, and twins parade, emphasizing the importance of twins in cultural practices.
According to the deputy governor, plans for the next edition include enhancing the festival’s infrastructure, expanding its reach through wider publicity, and collaborating with local and international cultural organizations to increase participation.
Earlier in his address, Chairman of the 2024 edition of the World Twins Festival, Honorable Abass Adigun expressed optimism about the future of the Twin Festival and its potential to shine on the world stage.
The second term member of the Federal House of Representatives noted that with a focus on cultural preservation and economic empowerment, Oyo state was already set to transform the festival into a landmark event that celebrates the rich heritage of twin births in Yoruba culture.
Popular Igboora born twin ambassadors of the annual event, Taye Oguntoye and Kehinde Oguntoye, in their separate remarks while speaking to newsmen described twin birth as a symbol of love and unity worthy of celebration.
While advocating for more access to high fertility care, Taye Oguntoye said “Large numbers of people are affected by infertility in their lifetime, according to a new report published by WHO. Around 17.5% of the adult population – roughly 1 in 6 worldwide–experience infertility, showing the urgent need to increase access to affordable, high-quality fertility care for those in need.”
Highlight of this year’s world twins celebration was the official unveiling of a statue of a woman carrying twins with one strapped to her back and the other in her arms.
In attendance were members of the Oyo state executive Council, Federal House of Representatives member; Hon. Anthony Adepoju, State lawmakers from Ibarapa Central state constituency, the local government executive chairman, Hon. Olusola Adeleke, traditional rulers, market leaders in Ibarapa, and other eminent personalities.
Oyo state House of Assembly from Ibara