A conference on Yoruba history and culture is a timely one. Currently, with a Yorubaman as the presidential of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the hegemonic control of the Yoruba ethnic group over the socio-economic and political affairs of the country is total. Incidentally, the Yoruba ethnic group, over the years, has been noted for canvassing and adopting dynamic and progressive ideas in developing, they have suffered enormous lost of lives and properties, more than any other ethnic group in the country. Currently the tension, strain and conflict characteristic of societies undergoing transition from traditional state to modern ones, is heaviest among the Yoruba than the other ethnic groups in Nigeria. As a matter of fact, the fear in some quarters is that, under the drive for modernization, westernization,

development, or the pursuit of progressive dynamic ideas, the Yoruba among the other ethnic groups in Nigeria, stand the greatest risk of losing her history, language and culture, in no distant time. It is therefore axiomatic to believe that the destiny of Nigeria and the other ethnic groups in the country is tied to the future of the Yoruba group. The quality of leadership offered by the Yoruba group to manage the enormous crisis occasioned by the pursuit of progressive, modernization ideas, would significantly affect the destiny of Nigeria and the future of the other ethnic groups in the country. A conference of this nature is therefore necessary to re-appraise the dying culture and history of the Yoruba and assess the place or role of Yoruba in shaping the future of Nigeria as a Federal entity.