Senior Advocate Urges Reformed Ogboni Fraternity to Establish Public Institutions
Prof. Joseph Abugu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and public analyst, has called on the leadership of the Reformed Ogboni Fraternity (ROF) to emulate churches and mosques by establishing public institutions that would serve the wider society.
Abugu made the remarks as a guest lecturer during the ROF’s 101st-anniversary celebration in Lagos on Wednesday. He emphasised that creating institutions such as schools, universities, farming hubs, and financial institutions could help integrate the fraternity more deeply into Nigerian society and improve its public perception.
“I believe ROF has significant potential for growth,” Abugu stated. “Churches and mosques have made remarkable strides in establishing schools, universities, agricultural hubs, and financial institutions. The ROF must adopt a similar approach, not just focusing on vertical growth but expanding horizontally and diversifying its impact on society.”
He added that such initiatives would help endear the fraternity to Nigerians and counter prevailing misconceptions about its activities and values.
Abugu also touched on the stigma surrounding the ROF, noting that many people associate the group with idolatry and occultism due to its name and historical context.
“The name ‘Ogboni’ evokes fear and is often linked to idolatry and occultism. Many fail to understand the distinction between the Reformed Ogboni Fraternity and the traditional Yoruba Ogboni society,” he explained.
He called on the ROF to leverage technology and media to rebrand its image and communicate its values effectively. “A public rebranding campaign and a more interactive, widely promoted website could help dispel these myths and attract professionals and elites back into the fraternity,” he suggested.
Reflecting on the fraternity’s past, Abugu noted that its membership once included professionals such as lawyers, doctors, and accountants, including the first indigenous Chief Justice of Nigeria, who was an Olori Oluwo of the ROF. However, he lamented a decline in professional membership, attributing it to the rise of charismatic movements in Christianity and misconceptions about the ROF.
In response, Otunba Francis Meshioye, the overall head of the ROF, expressed gratitude for the recommendations but noted the fraternity’s cautious approach to adopting such changes.
“We appreciate the recommendations, but we are careful for certain reasons,” Meshioye said. “Rest assured, we will take them into consideration.”
Abugu’s suggestions, if adopted, could mark a new chapter for the ROF, positioning it as a modern, community-focused organization while addressing lingering misconceptions about its identity and purpose.
