Stakeholders in Igbo-Ora, Oyo State, are intensifying efforts to secure international recognition for the town’s World Twins Festival, with a call for the celebration to be recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Igbo-Ora, a community in the Ibarapa area of Oyo State, is renowned for its unusually high number of twin births, attracting attention from researchers, tourists and cultural enthusiasts from Nigeria and beyond.
The annual festival celebrates twins and their families while showcasing Yoruba cultural heritage, traditional practices and the community’s longstanding association with multiple births.
Oganisers and community leaders say UNESCO recognition would help preserve the festival’s cultural significance, improve its international profile and position Igbo-Ora as a leading destination for cultural tourism.
The 2026 edition of the festival took place from October 6 to 11, with a series of activities celebrating twins, promote cultural exchange and encourage community development.
The programme included cultural displays, educational competitions, indoor games, a novelty football match, music performances and other activities designed to attract visitors and showcase the community’s traditions.
The grand finale was held on October 10 at Methodist Grammar School, Sagan-Un, Igbo-Ora, bringing together twins, their families, traditional rulers, government representatives and other visitors.
The festival’s theme, “Twinning for Safe & Secure Communities,” highlighted the organisers’ emphasis on community safety, peaceful coexistence and collective responsibility.
Ahead of the celebrated Twins Festival,The chairman of Ibarapa Central Local Government, Adeleke Ayoade Olusola, and traditional rulers from Igbo-Ora, visited the ministry to discuss the festival and its development.
The push for international recognition is part of broader efforts to promote cultural tourism in Oyo State, preserve indigenous heritage and create economic opportunities for local communities.
Supporters believe greater international exposure could attract more tourists, generate business for local traders and hospitality operators, and encourage investment in tourism infrastructure.
The festival has also drawn attention to the cultural significance of twins in Yoruba society, where twins have historically occupied a special place in traditional beliefs and community celebrations.
Stakeholders say the ultimate goal is to transform the festival into an internationally recognised cultural event while preserving the traditions that make Igbo-Ora distinctive.
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