Gbenro Adesina
Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatubosun has affirmed that the state has tourism potentials that could yield enough income for the state and also generate employment, if private investors and corporate bodies could collaborate with the present administration to develop the tourism sites.
Olatubosun stated this during a courtesy visit by the Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria (FTAN) to his office, where he said the present government in the state was committed to partnering with groups, associations, corporate bodies and individuals, who are into the development of culture and tourism potentials that are embedded in Oyo State.
He said this was due to the fact that Oyo State is blessed with diverse traditional elements and tourist sites, which when utilised and harnessed, would attract investors, provide employment and increase the IGR of the state.
His words, “It is no news that Oyo State possesses more traditional elements that always attract foreign and local interests as well as tourism sites that when, harnessed, will bring enough fund to the state and booster its IGR. Countries like Israel, Kenya, Italy and others do not rely on petroleum to survive; they use tourism to drive revenue. We are replicating same in Oyo State and it shall be successful with conscious collaboration of corporate interests and organisational support for the government in the areas of revamping, redesigning and face-lifting our major traditional programmes and tourist-attractive sites. Ado-Awaye suspended lake is one site that has no equal in Africa; even United Nations should show interest”.
“Governor Seyi Makinde has shown great interest in building the tourism industry to become a revenue-generating sector in the state, that is a quality of a leader that sees into the future and sees potentials for solutions where others are lamenting”, he added.
The Commissioner also assured the association of the readiness of the State Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism to partner with them in promoting the culture and tourist potentials in the state.
In his remarks, the Vice President Southwest Zone of FTAN, Otunba Ayo Olumoko, stated that the association has been in existence for about 23 years and has chapters of the association in all the 36 states of the federation.
Olumoko said the purpose of the visit was to acquaint the state government, through the Ministry, of their efforts at sanitising the tourism industry in Nigeria and put in place a structured executive body in each state to oversee its activities in line with the mandate of the association.
He promised a robust relationship with Oyo State Government through the Ministry so that activities in the tourism sector would not be hijacked by miscreants.
