By: Manoah Kikekon
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| Caroline Kuwayenu and Women smoking at Ojude Oba |
While the vibrant colors, rhythmic drumming, and unmatched elegance of Ojude Oba 2026 captivated millions globally, a viral video of an elderly woman smoking openly at the festival has sparked intense public debate. Joining the conversation is prominent mental health advocate and peace ambassador, Ambassador Caroline Aderonke Kuwayenu, who has strongly condemned the act, warning of the dangerous message it sends to Nigeria's youth.
Kuwayenu, who serves as the President of Egbe AROBAYO OBIRIN ADIMULA of Ijeshaland, as well as a Counseling Psychologist and Ambassador of Peace, Conscience, and Global Education, expressed deep concern over how the incident overshadows the true essence of the historic cultural festival.
"Ojude Oba 2026 was meant to be a celebration of culture, unity, and pride," Kuwayenu stated. "But the image of a woman smoking openly at the event and going viral says something we can’t ignore."
The viral footage, which has trended across TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram, comes at a time when Nigeria is grappling with severe socio-economic hurdles. According to Ambassador Kuwayenu, influencers and public figures must realize that their actions do not exist in a vacuum, especially when the younger generation is watching closely.
"Nigeria is already battling too much: kidnapping, insecurity, broken systems," she noted. "Our young people are looking for direction in a noisy world. The last thing they need is to see destructive habits being normalized by people they admire or aspire to be like."
She emphasized that attending a major cultural showcase like Ojude Oba elevates an individual from a private citizen to a public representative of heritage.
"Whether we accept it or not, when you show up at a major cultural event, you’re not just living for yourself. You become part of the message the next generation receives. If what goes viral is smoking, drinking, or chasing clout over substance, that’s what gets copied."
As a counseling psychologist and mental health advocate, Kuwayenu urged public figures and festival attendees to prioritize substance over digital clout. With Nigerian youth heavily consuming social media content, she stressed that modern influence must be tethered to responsibility.
"We don’t need more bad examples right now. We need people who understand that influence is responsibility. The clothes you wear, the habits you flaunt, the moments you put out young people are watching and learning."
Ojude Oba remains one of West Africa's most prestigious cultural exhibitions, drawing thousands of visitors to Ijebu-Ode annually to honor the Awujale of Ijebuland. Kuwayenu concluded her statement by calling on Nigerians to guard the integrity of such traditions fiercely, using them to inspire rather than degrade societal values.
"Ojude Oba should show the best of Yoruba culture and Nigerian values, not blur the lines for attention," Kuwayenu urged. "At a time when the country is fighting for safety and direction, let’s give our children something worth imitating. Be the kind of role model Nigeria needs today, not another problem it has to manage tomorrow."