Culture is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups. Culture is often originated from or attributed to a specific region or location.
Humans acquire culture through the learning processes of enculturation and socialization, which is shown by the diversity of cultures across societies.
There are a number of international agreements and national laws relating to the protection of culture and cultural heritage. UNESCO coordinates international protection and local implementation.
Basically, the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and the UNESCO Convention for the Protection of Cultural Diversity deal with the protection of culture. Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights deals with cultural heritage in two ways: it gives people the right to participate in cultural life on the one hand and the right to the protection of their contributions to cultural life on the other.
The protection of culture and cultural goods is increasingly taking up a large area nationally and internationally. Under international law, the UN and UNESCO tried to set up and enforce rules for this. The aim is not to protect a person’s property, but rather to preserve the cultural heritage of humanity, especially in the event of war and armed conflict. According to Karl von Habsburg, President of Blue Shield International, the destruction of cultural assets is also part of psychological warfare. The target of the attack is the identity of the opponent, which is why symbolic cultural assets become a main target. It is also intended to affect the particularly sensitive cultural memory, the growing cultural diversity and the economic basis (such as tourism) of a state, region or municipality.
Another important issue today is the impact of tourism on the various forms of culture. On the one hand, this can be physical impact on individual objects or the destruction caused by increasing environmental pollution and, on the other hand, socio-cultural effects on society.
In view of the above, Hon Abass Adigun Agboworin, moved a motion at the house of Representative that the National Commission for Museum and Monument to declare some cultural and historical monuments in Oyo state as national monuments for effective preservation and management. Oyo state is blessed with some many cultural heritage site, with rich historical backgrounds, some of these sites are, Aláàfin’s palace in Oyo, Sogidi lake in Aawẹ, Asabari Hill in Shaki, Kunrunmi battleground in Ìjàyè, Ado-awaye suspended lake, Bower Tower in Ibadan, Soun’s palace in Ogbomoso, Agbele Hill Rock in Igbeti etc.
It is not news that most countries in the world now focus on Tourism as source of revenue, to boost their economy, as at today, Nigeria has sixty-five (65) national monuments and none of these is in Oyo State, whereas Oyo State has more than twenty (20) monuments, that can be used as tourists centers to boost the national economy.
This motion moved by Hon. Abass A. Adigun shows that he is rich intellectually, because it takes a person with high intellect to think out of the box and look for a way to impact his society positively, if this motion is passed and sign into law, it will boost the economy of Nigeria Government, also increase the IGR of Oyo State Government and expand the business of people living around the area where these cultural institutions are located.
I hereby implore the speaker of the house of Representative to give the passage of this motion speedy hearing and Mr President to attest to it without any delay.
Oluyinka Tella is my name, from Oyo Aláàfin, Oyo State.