Governor Makinde Targets Tourism to Expand Oyo State Economy

The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has stated the readiness of his administration to make tourism one of the major planks of its economic expansion agenda.

 

 

The governor announced this on Saturday, at Igbo-Ora, the headquarters of Ibarapa Central Local Government Area of the state, during the annual World Twins Festival, organised by the Igbo-Ora community, Twins World Creations and the state government.

 

 

 

Makinde noted that his administration had succeeded in rejuvenating the state’s economy through agribusiness, but that it would now focus on tourism as another major contributor to the state’s economy.

 

“Let me also add that we will expand the pillar on expansion of our economy. Before, we were talking about agribusiness, and now we will add tourism. And if we want to do this, we need to look into what can make tourism gain a foothold in Ibarapaland. So, we need infrastructure,” he said

 

The governor declared that the Twins Festival, which is a celebration of Igbo-Ora’s renown as the world’s capital of twins and multiple births, has a great tourism potential for Ibarapaland and Oyo State, saying the government would do everything possible to make the zone a tourist destination.

 

Governor Makinde maintained that having been able to turn around the security situation in Ibarapaland, his administration would put in place adequate infrastructure which would help tourism to gain foothold.

 

He further said that, “We used to have security challenges in Ibarapaland before but it is now a thing of the past as our people now go to farms with their minds at rest while others go about their daily businesses and endeavours in peace.

 

The governor disclosed that within the next few weeks, construction works would begin on the Ibadan-Eruwa Road and the Igbo-Ora-Iganna Road, with a view to fully integrating Ibarapa Zone into the economic development agenda of his administration, saying his government would be kicking-off his campaign for the 2023 governorship election in Igbo-Ora.

 

“Well, let me use this opportunity to tell you that I will flag-off my campaign for the 2023 governorship election in Igbo-Ora. So, in a couple of weeks, I will come back to talk about politics.”

 

“Before I come back here to flag off my campaign, you would have seen some contractors on the Ibadan to Eruwa road. You would also see them on the road linking Igbo-Ora to Iganna, and I believe Ibarapaland will be fully integrated into the economic development of Oyo State, “ he added.

 

Earlier, the Olora of Igbo-Ora, Oba Jimoh Olajide Titiloye, thanked the governor for identifying with the land of twins and multiple births, declaring the support of his people for the governor’s re-election bid.

 

Similarly, the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun, in his goodwill message, said the state government was happy to associate with the Twins Festival because of its tourism potential.

 

Initiators of the programme, Taiwo and Kehinde Oguntoye, in their speech, thanked the governor for gracing the event, adding that Governor Makinde happened to be the first elected public official to identify with such a programme, equally urging the governor to initiate a policy to support twins and families with multiple births.

 

 

 

 

 

O.O