Professor Abimbola is the recipient of the UNESCO Proclamation of Ifá as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. In November 2005, UNESCO proclaimed the Ifá divination system as one of eighty-six traditions of the world to be regarded as masterpieces. UNESCO then enjoined all nations and peoples of the world to give their unflinching support to these traditions, so that they would not perish.
A project entitled Safeguarding the Ifá Divination System was then initiated with the support of UNESCO, the major component of which is the establishment of the Ifá Heritage Institute at Ọ̀yọ́, Nigeria. The Ifá Heritage Institute, a two-year college, came into being in November 2008. The curriculum is rooted in Ifá and Yorùbá indigenous knowledge, and is taught in the Yorùbá language.