Who we are
We Cater for the Needs of Yoruba People in Ottawa
Isokan Yoruba Ottawa is a vibrant socio-cultural group dedicated to the Nigerian Yoruba community residing in Ottawa and its surrounding areas. As a non-profit organization, we are committed to preserving and promoting our rich cultural heritage, values, and traditions, ensuring they remain an integral part of the Canadian mosaic.
What We Stand For
The Association strive to fulfill the following mission statements:
Preserve and promote our cultural heritage, values and traditions as part of the Canadian mosaic.
Provide support for the well-being of individual members in good standing within the association.
Facilitate increased awareness and support social, economic and community development/ advancement.
Promote and encourage the teaching of Yoruba language and culture as a means to instill cultural values in our community.
President’s Message
I am delighted to write this foreword as the President of Isokan Yoruba Ottawa, an association that is guided by the ọmọlúwàbí ethos: character, integrity, and moral excellence. We are dedicated to promoting Yoruba culture, values, and traditions in the heart of Canada’s capital and beyond.
I am honored to lead this vibrant community, and I am proud of the work we do to preserve our language, customs, and traditions. This includes the establishment and on-going support for the Yoruba School Ottawa to preserve our language and promote the Yoruba cultural heritage, values and traditions within the Canadian mosaic. Yoruba School Ottawa will inspire our confidence and that of our children in Yoruba culture and heritage, while also embracing the diversity that makes Canada strong.
In the Canadian spirit of accommodation, compassion, and social responsibility, Isokan Yoruba is committed to giving back to our homeland through the Yoruba Health Initiative that we launched in December 2011. The goal of the initiative is to raise funds to support and improve healthcare delivery in Yoruba land. We have also supported and continue to support various initiatives in our community in Ottawa.
It is very important for me to acknowledge and appreciate the hard work and dedication of our past leaders and founding members of Isokan Yoruba Ottawa. Your efforts have been instrumental in shaping our community into what it is today. It was Isaac Newton who once said that “If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants”. Because we stand upon your shoulders, we are able to continue to strive for excellence. We thank you for your vision, leadership, and unwavering commitment to our shared values. We are grateful for your contributions and will continue to honor your service to our community.
I invite you all to join us on this journey, as we explore the depths of Yoruba culture and its contributions to our global community. Let us celebrate our differences, while finding common ground in our shared humanity.
Oodua Agbe wa oo
Bayo Aregbesola
President, Isokan Yoruba Ottawa
Programs and Initiatives
Ongoing support for the Motherland
YorubaLand Health Initiative
The association feels it is important and is our duty to give back to our homeland. With this in mind we launched a Health Initiative in December 2011. The goal of the initiative is to raise funds to support and improve health care delivery in Yoruba land.
Community Support Programs
Ottawa Homeland Initiative
The Ottawa Homeland Initiative was launched during the 15th year celebration of Isokan Yoruba of Ottawa on December 10, 2016. The overarching goal of this initiative is to increase the visibility, relevance in socio-cultural sphere in Ottawa.
Cultural Programs
Yoruba School
Yoruba School is borne out of the mission of Isokan Yoruba of Ottawa, which is to preserve and promote the Yoruba cultural heritage, values and traditions as part of the Canadian mosaic.
Join Our Association
Become a member of the Yoruba Social and Cultural Association of Ottawa by completing our membership form.