Ifa Religion Council Urges Tinubu to Declare National Holidays for Isese Festival

The International Council for Ifa Religion (ICIR) has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to officially recognise the Isese faith by declaring August 20 and 21 as national public holidays.

ICIR President, Fayemi Fakayode, made the call in a statement released on Wednesday, August 20, in Ibadan, Oyo State, ahead of the 2025 Isese Day celebration.

“We seek national recognition from President Tinubu through the declaration of August 20th and 21st as public holidays for Isese across Nigeria,” Fakayode said.

The statement noted that some South-West states—including Oyo, Lagos, Ogun, and Osun—had already declared Wednesday a work-free day to mark this year’s Isese Day. Fakayode urged governors in Ekiti, Ondo, Kwara, Kogi, Edo, and Delta to follow suit.

He also called for greater government support in preserving cultural heritage.
“We want the government to fund cultural festivals, protect shrines and sacred lands, and integrate practitioners into cultural councils, as is done for Muslims and Christians,” he said.

Fakayode further urged the Federal Government to address what he described as inequality among the country’s three major religions by granting official recognition to Isese adherents.

He stressed that Isese is a vital pillar of Yoruba and African identity, symbolising morality, unity, reverence for nature, and communal living.
“Celebrating Isese safeguards our heritage, promotes pride in our culture, and strengthens enduring values such as honesty, respect, and hard work,” he added.

The ICIR president commended South-West governors for supporting the festival and encouraged the federal government to invest in cultural sites nationwide to drive both tourism revenue and community development.