AYIDSA: Yoruba Diaspora Group Announces Leadership Transition

In a significant development for the Yoruba community in South Africa, the Association of Yorubas in Diaspora South Africa (AYIDSA) has announced a transition in its National Executive Committee (NEC). This change, set to take place on Saturday, 22nd of February, 2025, marks a new chapter in the organization’s commitment to serving the interests of Yoruba people in the region.

About AYIDSA

AYIDSA, with its headquarters at 734 14th Avenue Wonderboom South, Pretoria, South Africa, stands as a beacon for Yoruba cultural preservation and community support in the diaspora. The organization’s logo, featuring three figures joined in unity, symbolizes the collective strength and solidarity of Yorubas in South Africa.

Leadership Transition

The transition, announced in an official communication dated 7th February 2025, aligns with AYIDSA’s constitutional provisions. According to Omoba Adeniyi P. Ogunsola, the Acting Secretary General, this change will “enable new members to be injected into AYIDSA leadership structure in order to have the opportunity of serving the interest of our organisation and her members in South Africa.”

Children performing Yoruba cultural dance at the 2024 AYIDSA Heritage Day event held in Pretoria, South Africa

AYIDSA Leadership

The interim National Executive Committee, which constitutes the AYIDSA leadership, comprises distinguished professionals from various fields:

• President: Dr. Olusola Agbeniyi (Osun State), a Dental Practitioner in private practice in Gauteng.
• Vice President: Engr. Oladele Opaleye (Oyo State), an Architect, Construction Manager, and Lecturer.
• Secretary General: Omooba Adeniyi Patrick Ogunsola (Ogun State), a Communication Specialist and Project Developer at Amona Online, Pretoria.
• Assistant Secretary General/PRO: Mrs. Mabel Eyitemi Edomni (Osun State), a post-graduate student in Civil Engineering at the University of South Africa.
• Welfare Secretary: Dr. Toyeeb Yusuf (Lagos State), Chief Executive Officer at Andree Vosloos Provincial Hospital, Summerset East, Eastern Cape.
• Treasury Secretary: Mr Sunday Ayoola (Ondo State), Chief Executive Officer of SA Personal Protection Services in Ekurhuleni.
• Social Secretary: Dr. Gbenga Adeyeye, PhD (Osun State), a Lecturer at the University of Johannesburg.

Organizational Structure

AYIDSA’s structure includes an Electoral College, which serves as a transitional council. This body consists of:

1. Members of the Hall of Paladins
2. Three representatives from districts
3. Ex-presidents
4. Ex-vice presidents
5. Ex-secretary Generals

Mission and Impact

While specific achievements were not detailed in the provided information, AYIDSA’s mission is clear: to serve as a unifying force for Yorubas in Sou

Emblem of the Association of Yorubas in Diaspora, South Africa – AYIDSA

th Africa. The organization appears to focus on cultural preservation, community welfare, and providing a structured representation for Yoruba interests in their adopted home.

The upcoming transition suggests a dynamic and evolving organization committed to fresh perspectives and continued growth. As stated in their communication, “E seun l’opolopo. Ire l’oju owo nri, a ko ni ri aburu kankan l’ojo t’oni pelu ase Edumare!” – a Yoruba phrase expressing gratitude and hope for a positive future.

Looking Ahead

As AYIDSA prepares for this transition, the Yoruba community in South Africa can anticipate renewed energy and potentially new initiatives to further the association’s goals. The diverse professional backgrounds of the current leadership team suggest a multifaceted approach to addressing community needs and fostering cultural ties.

For more information, interested parties can contact AYIDSA at 0848670000 or 0659623001 or visit their website at www.ayidsa.org

This transition marks not just a change in leadership, but a reaffirmation of AYIDSA’s commitment to “re-defining nationhood through communality,” as stated in their motto “EGBÉ OMOLÚWÀBÍ.”