The Kwara Coordinator of the Oodua People's Congress, Mr Olanrewaju Salam, on Wednesday called on Nigerians to always promote and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the nation.

Salam, who made the call in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria in Ilorin, said a nation's cultural heritage was its identity.

The OPC boss, who is also the Chairman of Olokun Foundation in Kwara State, said this year's Oya Festival would hold between November 15 and November 26 at Ira in Oyun Local Government Area of the state.

According to him, the organisers of the Oya festival – Olokun Festival Foundation – is an organisation promoting the cultural heritage of the Yoruba.

Salam said, "A nation's culture is the total way of life of the people, hence the need for the Yoruba nation to always promote its rich cultural heritage."

He said culture had become a global phenomenon where every nation of the world showcased its culture to the outside world.

"Festival is a culture and not a religion. Hardly can you see a state without the Ministry of Culture. At this point, we need to celebrate our heroes, heroines and deities and showcase them to the outside world for them to see our rich and diverse cultural heritage," he added.

Salam called on the governments of Kwara and Kogi states to collaborate with the organisers of the Oya Festival to make it a grand success.

"We hereby call on Kwara and Kogi state governments, the Ministry of Culture and the National Museum to give total support and fully participate in this year's edition of Oya Festival," Salam said.