The Oyo State Government in Southwest Nigeria says it has concluded arrangements to reveal its blueprint for the development of the tourism sector in the state.
The Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatunbosun, stated this in Ibadan, during an interview on the state-owned broadcasting outfit, the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS).
Olatunbosun said the state government had a blueprint on tourism which would soon be revealed to people in Oyo State and the country at large, noting that through the blueprint, actions would be deployed to achieve economic goals and development, as outlined in the Oyo State Roadmap for Sustainable Development 2023-2027.
He commended Governor Seyi Makinde’s commitment towards the promotion of tourism for sustainable development in the Omituntun 2.0 agenda. highlighting the various developmental approaches that would be adopted in promoting and prioritising natural heritage, such as the propagation of culture and tourism in the state, thereby attracting investors from all nooks and crannies.
Olatunbosun said: “There is a new ministry called Culture and Tourism; this shows the commitment of the state government in line with the governor’s Roadmap for Sustainable Development 2023-2027. The endowment in this state, in this sector, is unbelievable. We are richly blessed with potential.”
He revealed that the effort could be achieved by approaching not only development agencies interested in investing in culture to seek opportunities for collaboration but also Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) within and outside the shores of the nation.
“Oyo State houses 168 tourist sites, amongst which we have: The Bowers Tower in Ibadan; also the Ancient Ibadan Cultural Centre; Sogidi Lake in Aawe, Oyo; Iyamapo in Igbeti; Iyake Suspended Lake in Ado-Awaye, and other monuments/historic sites,” the commissioner disclosed.
He said some of the identified key tourist sites were currently being inspected in partnership with invited investors, and plans to refurbish moribund art facilities in a space of one year were already in progress.
