The Oyo State Government, Southwest Nigeria, has hosted an International Tourism Summit, themed: “From Groundwork to Governance: Building Tourism that Endures”, to showcase tourism assets in the state to investors.
Speaking at the summit, held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Governor Seyi Makinde explained that his administration has put in place major policies, actions and economic enablers that will make the state the hub of tourism in Southwest Nigeria and a major tourism destination in the country.
The Governor noted that with key infrastructure development projects connecting towns and communities in the state, improved security, as well as ongoing efforts to revitalise major tourist attractions, the number of tourism activities in Oyo State will increase in the next few years.
Makinde said another major factor that will make the state a tourism hub is in the area of continuity of policies and ideas, as according to him, policies underpinning tourism development have been institutionalised, with structures and systems well built and ideas aligned to sustain the sector.
He stated: “When you have long-term investments, you require more than vision. You require more than sweet talk. So, long-term investment requires continuity.
“And given the volatility of our political climate, we have had instances where one administration does its best to build systems, and the next comes in and scuttles it.
“Leadership changes, but systems endure. So, our focus has been deliberate. For this tourism sector, we’re not just initiating projects. We’re building structures that can sustain them.
“Structures that define how decisions are made. We have aligned institutions around shared goals and ensured that progress does not depend on individuals. This is institutionalisation.”
The Governor assured investors that his administration has created a system where investment is not only possible but structured, protected and enduring, affirming that the risks of investing in the state are greatly reduced.
He said: “When you engage with Oyo State, you are engaging with a system where decisions are guided by frameworks, engagement is coordinated across government, and projects are anchored in long-term plans.
“It means that your investments are not dependent on personalities, but supported by structures.”
Earlier, the former Minister of Mines and Steel and former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, commended Governor Makinde’s infrastructural strides across the geopolitical zones of the state, for promoting tourism and implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area initiative.
Fayemi said: “For tourism to be sustained and developed, it must be institutionalised rather than personalised; serve as a catalyst instead of a controller; treated as an ecosystem rather than isolated projects; recognised as an economic driver and not merely decoration; and security alongside environmental stewardship must remain non-negotiable.”
He advocated the establishment of a Southwest Tourism Circuit that would serve as the region’s international gateway for tourism, with the tourist attractions of each state strategically interconnected.
Good Road Network
In their separate addresses as investors in Oyo State, the founder, Kunle Afolayan Production (KAP) Film Village, Mr Kunle Afolayan, and the Managing Director, Whatadeal Africa, Mr Obafela Bank-Olemoh, commended the governor for the construction of roads to improve access and boost tourism in the state.
They both acknowledged the state as the custodian of history, tourism, traditions and customs, noting that heritage is the strongest tourism differentiator in the state.
The Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatubosun, explained that the tourism foundation being laid in the state is designed to ensure consistency, coordination, disciplined execution, and long-term growth.
He maintained that Oyo State has established institutional coordination, identified and prioritised key tourism assets with structuring development frameworks, and demonstrated early execution through strategic concessions with development partners.
Investors Confidence
The Director-General, Oyo State Mobilisation Agency for Social Economic Development (OYMASED), Dr Morounkola Thomas, in his presentation titled, “From Execution to Governance”, said when governance is in place, investors gain confidence and the government gains alignment, while projects gain continuity.
In his presentation on the Eleyele Lake Development Framework, the Director-General of the Oyo State Investment and Public Private Partnerships Agency, Mr Tilewa Folami, also spoke about the tourism potential of the state.
In her opening address, the Secretary, Organising Committee, Ms. Abigail Anaba, noted that the government alone cannot build a tourism economy, but that its responsibility is to create clarity of direction, structure, and opportunity.
She emphasised that the event focuses on moving tourism development from alignment to execution in the state, thereby encouraging stakeholders to support the government, understand the systems and frameworks established and identify how to plug into the opportunities.
Victoria Ibanga
