The International Council for Ifa Religion (ICIR) has extended heartfelt commendations to the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, for his steadfast dedication to the preservation and promotion of Oduduwa’s rich cultural and spiritual heritage.
This commendation follows the Ooni’s generous donation of three acres of land to the ICIR, a gesture that marks a significant milestone in the advancement of Yoruba traditional religion on a global scale.
The donated land, located near the Stadium Area, Route 7 in Ile-Ife, will serve as the site for the construction of the World Ifa Temple—a landmark project envisioned to become the largest pilgrimage destination for followers of Yoruba spirituality around the world.
In a formal letter of appreciation issued by the President of the International Council for Ifa Religion, Dr. Fayemi Fatunde Fakayode, the council expressed deep gratitude for the monarch’s contribution.
“On behalf of the Council of Araba and Oluwo, we thank His Imperial Majesty for this good and historic gesture,” Dr. Fakayode wrote.
The president further highlighted the symbolic and cultural significance of the land donation, noting that preparations are already underway for the commencement of the ambitious project.
“With this step, the Ooni’s commitment to preserving and promoting Oduduwa’s cultural heritage and spirituality is obvious to all,” he stated.
Dr. Fakayode emphasized that the planned temple would not only stand as a monument to Ifa religion but also function as a central hub for spiritual rejuvenation, education, and cultural pilgrimage.
“This project is going to be the largest World Ifa Temple across the world,” he affirmed, underlining the temple’s potential to become a beacon for practitioners and scholars of Yoruba religion globally.
The initiative is widely seen as a transformative development in the global recognition and institutionalization of Yoruba traditional worship, positioning Ile-Ife—widely regarded as the ancestral home of the Yoruba people—as the spiritual epicenter of the Ifa religion.