Oba of Lagos Urges Sanwo-Olu’s Government to Act on Petition Against ‘Owambe Exhibition’ by Uzo Njoku

A letter from the Oba of Lagos, Rilwanu Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu I, has called on the Lagos State Government to take immediate action regarding concerns raised by the Yoruba Youth Council (YYC) over an event titled “An Owambe Exhibition.”

Dated September 24, 2025, and addressed to the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Toke Benson-Awoyika, as well as the Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Idris Aregbe, the letter relays a formal petition submitted by the YYC. It raises alarm over what is described as cultural misrepresentation in the planned exhibition, led by Nigerian-American artist Uzo Njoko.

“I am directed by His Royal Majesty, Alaiyeluwa Oba Rilwanu Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu I, Oba of Lagos, to forward the attached petition from the Yoruba Youth Council, dated September 22, 2025, concerning the exhibition titled ‘An Owambe Exhibition’ by Uzo Njoko, which has raised serious concerns over cultural misrepresentation,” the letter stated.

The Oba, through the letter, instructed the state’s tourism authorities to take appropriate action, stressing that the monarch is keen to prevent any form of unrest or disturbance within Lagos and its environs. A photocopy of the YYC petition was enclosed for reference.

Furthermore, the monarch requested that the Ministry conduct a review of current policies and guidelines governing cultural showcases and public exhibitions in the state. This, he noted, would ensure proper approval and oversight of such events in the future.

“Alaiyeluwa respectfully requests that your Ministry review existing policies, rules, and regulations governing public exhibitions and cultural showcases,” the letter continued. “That will help ensure that this event, as well as future events of this nature, are subject to proper approval and oversight by your Ministry before they are allowed to take place.”

The letter has also been copied to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture; the Area Commander of “Area A” Police Command, Lion Building; and the leadership of the Yoruba Youth Council. The monarch commended the YYC for its diligence in bringing the matter to attention.

The intervention comes after the YYC, in a petition dated September 22, accused the exhibition’s organisers of attempting to appropriate Yoruba heritage. There has been public outrage about the exhibition, which many indigenes of Yoruba are calling a cultural misappropriation.