The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, on Friday, reiterated that the current administration will continue to preserve the state tourist sites to generate revenue, stating that the state is rich in tourism, culture and heritage.
Speaking through his deputy, Barr. Abdul-Raheem Adebayo Lawal, the Oyo State Governor noted that the state’s tourist sites have existed since the formation of the three senatorial districts and that the state will continue to preserve its uniqueness at the 2024 World Tourism Day celebration held at Sogidi Lake Awe in Afijio Local Government.
According to him, the annual World Tourism Day is celebrated annually and globally with the purpose of fostering awareness among the international communities and sensitizing them on the importance of tourism and its socio-cultural, political and economic values.
The Governor stated that the Oyo State Government under his administration commenced unique tradition of changing the venue of the celebration of annual World Tourism Day from one tourist site to another within the State.
He said the World Tourism Day was respectively celebrated at Idere Hills in Idere, Iyake Suspended Lake in Ado-Awaye and Iyamapo Hills in Igbeti and the Year 2023 edition was celebrated at Captain Bower’s Tower in Ibadan.
The state government would continue to be the main driver of the state’s economy, Governor Makinde said, emphasising the necessity of his administration preserving the tourism attractions in order to generate revenue.
He said: “The ideas of changing the venue of the celebration of annual World Tourism Day from one tourist site to another within the State are to publicise and market the potentials of all tourist sites in the State and bring them to global tourism limelight for mass consumption and investment.
“In addition, movement of Government Officials, Stakeholders, tourists and investors to the venues of the annual World Tourism Day will further inculcate the sense of belongings, importance and relevance on the natives and inhabitants. Hence the celebration of 2024 World Tourism Day here at Sogidi Lake, Awe.
“This year’s celebration at Awe will further promote, publicise and market the tourism potentials of Awe Town notable among which are Sogidi Lake, Ogungun tree, Aruwewe tree, Irowu deity agbede, the unique tourism product Peculiar to the ancient town of Awe town to the global communities and thereby draw the attention of more local and foreign tourists, investors, researchers amd nature enthusiasts to this town.
“In addition, hosting 2024 World Tourism Day here at Awe will provide employment and empowerment opportunities for this community, boost economic activities and income of the inhabitants, stem rural-urban migration and boost the internally generated revenue (IGR) of the State Government with other numerous associated multiplier effects.
“My administration has concluded all arrangements to develop and rehabilitate some tourist sites and monuments in the State, inclusive of Sogidi Lake and all it’s affiliates through public private partnership (PPP) initiative in accordance with international best practices and financial prudence. To this end, Sogidi Lake will soon be transformed into a world-class aquatic resort and recreation centre and park.
“Government events will be held at the event centre and these will generate more traffic to this town. Roads connecting Sogidi Lake and its related tourist and historic sites will be rehabilitated.
“The Oyo State Government, under the present administration has adopted various strategies towards enhancing peaceful co-existence and prevention of crimes and insecurities to promote tourism and hospitality in the State through the massive recruitment of able-bodied men and women into the Oyo State Security Network and Amotekun Corps, procurement of security patrol vans for all units of security agents in the State, erection of functional street lights across all the major roads, establishment of mobile police squadron at Ago-Are, among others.
“Consequently, Oyo State has been among the peaceful State in the country since the inception of our administration in May, 2019. This had led to great influx of local and foreign tourists and investors into our State. Also, there has been over Five Hundred Percentage (500%) increase in the numbers of private investment in tourism and hospitality since May, 2019. Thus, the theme for this year’s World Tourism Day,”Tourism and Peace” as stated by UNTourism is in line with the efforts of the Oyo State Government towards using peace and security of lives and properties to promote tourism.
“The present administration has also embarked in massive construction, dualization and rehabilitation of roads to link all the tourism corridors in the State for accessibility and patronage. The State Government further adopted the strategy of hosting Cultural and Contemporary Festivald for the promotion of tourism. In July, the first ever World Egungun Festival devoid of thuggery and hooliganism was held. The first post United Nations Economic, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), recognised World Heritage World Sango Festival was held at Oyo in August, 2024.”
While calling on genuine and credible investors for development and rehabilitation in the state’s tourist and historic sites through public private partnership, the Governor directed the Afijio Local Government Chairman to present a memo on the development of the lake for government consideration.
He expressed hope that the Sogidi lake will also be pushed into UNESCO just as Egungun festival among others have gained international recognition.
Earlier, the commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Wasiu Olatubosun noted that the current administration deserved commendation for the implementation of its promise of using tourism in driving through State economy as enshrined in the omituntun 2.0 roadmap for sustainable development.
He said in April, this year, the Oyo State Government hosted the first ever Oyo State International Tourism -Summit tagged ” #S Oyo State 2024#’ during which the tourism stakeholders and investors converged in Oyo State and brainstormed in the new ways forward for the development of tourism in the State.
He added that, “This is already yielding positive results as genuine and credible investors are already approaching the State Government on the development and rehabilitation of our tourism potentials.”
The commissioner said “The theme for this year’s World Tourism Day Celebration “Tourism and Peace” is in accordance with the policy of the administration of His Excellency, Engr. Seyi Makinde through the use of security and peaceful co-existence to drive tourism and hospitality as evidenced by the procurement of security patrol vans for all security agents, empowerment and mass recruitment of able-bodied men and women into Oyo State security Network and Amotekun Corps, fixing of functioning street lights along all the major roads in the State, among others.
“These make Oyo State one of the most peaceful State and haven of tourism in Nigeria. No wonder, there has been a tremendous influx of tourist and investors into the State since 2019 to the extent that the State is currently witnessing over six Hundred Percentage (600%) increase in the numbers of tourist and investment in tourism and hospitality.
“Our doors are still widely opened for any credible and genuine investors for the development and rehabilitation of our sites.”
However, in his goodwill message, the Local Government Chairman, Hon. Emmanuel Aikomo commended Governor Makinde for his efforts so far in promoting the state’s cultural heritage at all nooks and crannies of the state.
He said the entire populace of Afijio Local Government will forever be grateful for this kind gesture Sir.
In attendance were the commissioner for Justice, Barr. Abiodun Aikomo; the Alawe of Awe, Oba Cornelius Abiola Taiwo and host of others.
