Nico, Brazilian Consulate Launch Joint Initiative On Orisha Tradition Accreditation

The National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, is set to partner with the Brazilian Consulate in Lagos on a groundbreaking initiative to accredit Yoruba traditional practitioners—including Babalawos, Ifa Priests, and Traditional Kings—as a prerequisite for visa issuance to Brazil.

Speaking at a press conference held on Monday, May 12, 2025, at the Brazilian Consulate in Lagos to mark the World Orisha Congress (WOOCON), Executive Secretary of NICO, Otunba Biodun Ajiboye, announced that the collaboration aims to ensure authenticity and uphold the integrity of Yoruba Orisha traditions globally. This move comes in response to increasing reports of unethical practices by impostors posing as traditional spiritual leaders, which have harmed the credibility of the religion and culture.

“We are working closely with key stakeholders and traditional institutions across Nigeria to develop a robust verification and accreditation system,” Otunba Ajiboye said. “This system will guide the engagement of genuine traditional practitioners in international cultural and religious exchanges—especially with countries such as Brazil, Cuba, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and the United States.”

In addition to the accreditation initiative, NICO plans to create a structured platform to support global adherents of traditional Yoruba spirituality who wish to visit Nigeria. This effort aims to ensure they receive warm hospitality and an enriching, authentic cultural experience.

In his remarks, Ambassador Manuel Inocencio de Lacerda Santos Junior, Consul General of Brazil in Lagos, expressed deep appreciation to the Nigerian government for preserving and promoting Yoruba and Orisha traditions.

“The Yoruba and Orisha cultures remain a vibrant part of Brazilian identity. Through Candomblé—particularly the Ketu tradition—Brazil has preserved these African spiritual systems. The Orishas, such as Yemanjá, Ogun, and Oshum, are celebrated as sacred symbols of natural and human elements through music, dance, and ritual.”

Ambassador Santos Junior emphasized the historical and spiritual bond between Nigeria and Brazil, noting that the transatlantic slave trade may have separated people physically, but their cultural and spiritual heritage endured and flourished in the Americas.

Ajoyemi Olabisi Osunleye, President of Oduduwa Heritage Home in Brazil and International Consultant to WOOCON, called for a return to sacred traditions and deeper cultural reconnection.

“The Orisha tradition is not demonic—it is sacred wisdom, rooted in divine order and harmony with nature. WOOCON is not just a congress—it is a re-education platform. A space where priests meet professors, and heritage fuses with innovation,” she stated.

The event also featured goodwill messages from notable figures including:

• His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ooni of Ife and Chairman, Board of Trustees, WOOCON
• Her Excellency Ambassador Erieka Bennett, Founder and Head of Mission, Diaspora African Forum (DAF)
• Olori Francis Meshioye, OFR
• Prof. Wole Soyinka
• Prof. Wande Abimbola

This landmark collaboration between Nigeria and Brazil marks a significant step toward promoting cultural diplomacy, safeguarding traditional knowledge, and strengthening the spiritual and cultural ties between Africa and its diaspora