Veteran dramatist and academic, Professor Peter Fatomilola, has called on members of the Yoruba Tennis Club to preserve the cultural values, traditions and indigenous knowledge that have sustained the organisation for a century.

Fatomilola made the call during the club’s centenary cultural week in Lagos, where he delivered a lecture centred on destiny, identity, responsibility and Yoruba philosophy.

Speaking on the theme, “Ayanmo (Destiny),” the scholar drew extensively from Yoruba Ifa philosophy to explain the relationship between destiny, personal choices, responsibility and communal life.

He urged members of the club to make truth, integrity and strong moral values central to their relationships and activities, noting that the organisation’s longevity was closely connected to the principles upon which it was established.

Fatomilola also stressed the importance of passing these values on to younger generations, saying the centenary celebration should provide an opportunity to reflect on what should be preserved and transferred to the future.

The lecture exposed participants to aspects of Yoruba philosophy, with the academic using traditional teachings, verses and illustrations to explain concepts surrounding human destiny and responsibility.

He noted that indigenous knowledge remains an important part of cultural identity and should not be allowed to disappear as society continues to modernise.

The centenary event also provided an opportunity to reflect on the historical circumstances that led to the establishment of the Yoruba Tennis Club.

The organisation was founded after educated Yoruba Nigerians faced racial discrimination at existing tennis clubs during the colonial period.

The experience of exclusion encouraged a group of young Yoruba elites to establish their own institution, which later developed into an important social and cultural organisation.

Fatomilola urged members to preserve the history and values of the club while ensuring that younger generations understand the circumstances surrounding its establishment.

He maintained that celebrating 100 years should go beyond marking the club’s longevity and should also focus on sustaining its identity, heritage and contribution to society.