Seriki of Alimosho says parents must teach tradition at home, commends Eze Njoku friendship, urges schools to add native languages —
Felix Mbata, Lagos state
As Honeyland College, Ipaja celebrated its 2026 Cultural Day themed “One Culture, Our Pride”, one of the most colourful voices in the hall was Alhaji Ahmed Haruna , the overall Seriki of Alimosho Local Government, who attended as a distinguished community leader.
“My name is Alhaji Ahmed Haruna, Seriki overall Alimosho Local Government,” he told The Unique Model Magazine. “When a school is talking about culture, they are calling us, as community leaders in Lagos State. Whenever they call you, you must come — to grace the occasion, to make the children happy. This is what they will see in you that will make them love their culture.”
PARENTS, NOT CHILDREN, ARE THE PROBLEM
Asked why many youths from all tribes now see culture as “old fashion,” Alhaji Haruna placed the blame squarely on homes, not children.
“The problem there is about their parents. Parents are talking to their children to go to the beach, to foreign food eateries. Wherever the children want to go, they take them there, without showing them culture, traditional foods, and places. If you don’t show them, the children will not recognize culture,” he said.
“Some schools will not teach them culture and tradition. But we have some schools trying to bring the culture alive, like what is happening today. It is a remarkable programme. We are happy to see them bring culture alive more than before. Whatever contributions we have to give them, we make sure we help them out.”
NORTH WEARS NATIVE DAILY — SOUTH MUST COPY
On attire fading among tribes, with Hausa men now wearing suits and jeans in the South West, the Seriki drew a sharp contrast:
“It only happens in the South West. In the North, most of our people always wear native. They work from Monday to Friday wearing native. If you check our governors, they wear native most of the time.”
“EZE NJOKU IS MY GOOD FRIEND” — A MODEL FOR ONE NIGERIA
Alhaji Haruna’s presence reflected the unity Honeyland preached. He spoke warmly of his relationship with Eze Ambassador Nicholas Emenike Njoku, Eze Ohazuru-mee of Ejigbo.
“We should be looking at ourselves like we are all human beings, one Nigeria. Getting closer to each other makes us friends for today and the future, so that we start doing things together,” he said. “Eze Njoku is my good friend. Almost a year ago we met in a programme. There was a day I was doing my culture day, I had all the Igbos in Alimosho in my palace. So we are doing things together to encourage unity and peaceful co-existence. I am also in good relationship with Eze Ndigbo of Alimosho.”
“When Igbos are doing events and invite me, I will attend with my cabinet to grace the occasion. Likewise, when they are doing things I will attend if I am invited. We always hope to be working together, because we are one Nigeria, and we should think as brothers.”
HORSE, REGALIA, REALITY: TEACHING BY EXAMPLE
The Hausa youths stole the show when they rode a horse into the auditorium, dressed in full regalia. Alhaji Haruna revealed the secret:
“As long as one wants to learn something well, the person will meet the traditional ruler on the matter. There is no way they meet the leaders that they will not be taught well on how to do it. So my youths are very close to us, and we do teach them how to exhibit our culture and tradition.”
“Even the cloth you saw the horse wearing is my own cloth. It is my cloth and I use it when I want to climb the horse and move around the area. So, we gave it to them, knowing that this is what they should look like. They should look on what is called the reality of our culture of Hausa in Nigeria.”
On Hausa cultural celebrations, he added: “We do have our anniversary — that is when we exhibit our culture for the world to see us. We do the culture day together and everybody will go to his own place after the programme.”
“THIS SCHOOL IS A GREAT SCHOOL” — BUT ADD OUR LANGUAGE
Alhaji Haruna did not hide his affection for Honeyland College — or his charge to them. “I will say this school is a great school. I have six children that attended this school. My first daughter already finished university, she schooled here. Now I am still having five kids in this school. They teach them good things that I always surprise,” he said.
“But one thing that they should do is to give them our culture, our language, our tradition, whereby everybody will know where he belongs to — not them speaking only English all the time.”
CONCLUSION: CULTURE LIVES WHEN LEADERS SHOW UP
For Alhaji Ahmed Haruna Seriki, Honeyland’s Cultural Day was proof that schools can reverse the drift from tradition — if parents, teachers, and traditional rulers all play their part. From lending his personal regalia to his horse, to attending Igbo events with his cabinet, to enrolling six children in the school, he models the “One Nigeria” he preaches.
His message to Honeyland’s chairman and management was clear: you are doing well, but add our languages. His message to parents: take your children to culture, not just eateries. His message to Nigeria: Eze Njoku and I are friends — you should be too.
On 17th April, 2026, “One Culture, Our Pride” rode into the hall on a horse. And the Seriki of Alimosho made sure everyone knew: pride begins when leaders show up, and culture lives when we teach it.