Ogun State Govt.: ‘We’re determined to revive, sustain and promote cultural heritages like never before,’ Hon. Adijat
The Dapo Abiodun led Government of Ogun State has reiterated the administrations commitment to revive, sustain and promote the State’s tourism and cultural heritage. This was revealed on 20th April by Hon. Adijat Motunrayo Adeleye-Oladapo, Commissioner for Culture and Tourism as the State hosted the maiden edition of Stakeholders and new members retreat of the Institute for Tourism Professionals of Nigeria (ITPN), Ogun State Chapter, at the Wemby Suites, GRA, Ibara, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The event was part was of the effort of the Institute for Tourism Professionals of Nigeria (ITPN) to bring the impact of the institute closer the various States and to interface with the various stakeholders about its benefits and to bring Nigeria Tourism to the front burner by enhancing the status of Tourism and its Practitioners to meet higher global standards, applying same to Ogun State.
Hon. Adijat Motunrayo Adeleye-Oladapo, speaking at the event, said that ‘Ogun State is endowed with rich Cultural and Tourism potentials which has to a greater extent transformed the State into a tourism hub and destination in Nigeria. However, the strategic location of Ogun State as a Gateway to other States in Nigeria has endeared it to visitors, tourists and investors thereby making it a beehive of tourists in the country’.b
She praised the organizers of the event saying that, ‘This retreat is a pointer to the fact that Ogun State Government has come to terms with the vision of the ITPN to prepare a good ground for the provision of tourism sector personnel with professional ladder for competitive quality product and service delivery'.
She shed light on the work and impact of the State Government on Tourism development so far, noting that, ‘With a vision to set a standard for Ogun State Tourism, the State Government through the Ministry has transformed and brought to limelight hitherto obscured sites, monuments and heritages. The first orthodox hospital in Nigeria, Sacred Heart Hospital, Itesi, Abeokuta and the Second Storey building in Nigeria, Ota have been transformed into befitting National Tourism locations.
‘In furtherance of Tourism Development and Promotion, National Monuments like Olumo Rock Tourist Complex and Cathedral of St. Peters in Ake, Abeokuta have also been given facelift to increase the socio-economic value of these sites.’
Hon. Adijat Motunrayo Adeleye-Oladapo insisted also that the Ministry has been ensuring that Ogun State signature fabric Adire, an exportable commodity finds its way into every home nationally and by extension globally in the form of the following accessories: duvet, bags, beads, hair-bonds, file jacket, shoes, wristwatch, bands and so on. This vision propelled this administration to introduce the Adire Ogun Digital Market Place which has positioned our Adire Merchants in a global market while creating economic viability and sustainability for the trade to thrive.
‘You would all agree with me that for years back, our cultural heritage and values have received inadequate attention. It is in this regard that we are determined to revive, sustain and promote cultural heritages like never before. The Ministry has played prominent roles in the promotion of socio-cultural and traditional festivals in State which includes the Ojude Oba Festival, Oroona Festival, Lisabi Festival, Akesan Festival, Iganmode Festival, Egungun Festival, Eyo Festival, to mention a few. As we speak, the influx of participants and the large coverage of these festivals have given them global prominence.
‘In ensuring that Tourism gets to the next level in Ogun State, the Prince Dapo AbiodunMFR led administration is poised to approach Tourism in a holistic perspective to engage all other sectors and activities in Tourism value chain which include but not limited to aqua-tourism, agro-tourism, medical tourism and transportation.
The Honorable Commissioner explained that the their mission on tourism and cultural revival faced challenges include insufficient innovation and technology, insecurity of lives and properties, inadequate education and orientation on tourism, insufficient empowerment of youth and women, inadequate public-private partnership, the sudden Covid-19 Pandemic which hit the globe like the thunderbolt etc.
‘As complex as these challenges appear,’ She exuded with hope, ‘Within the short period of the current administration, we have been able to strengthen the security architecture of the State which is a prerequisite for sustainable tourism through public-private partnership. In terms of innovation and technology, we have developed a significant innovation in managing and promoting tourism particularly on how tourists search and receive information that guides them to the final choice of destination.
Hon. Adijat Motunrayo Adeleye-Oladapo, Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, concluding her statement emphasized that through advocacy, awareness raising and activities programmed through various initiatives, this administration is determined to empower more youth and women through training essentially in tourism related fields so as to increase the tourist and economic value of the State. In the same vein, we have invested heavily in capacity building of our Tourism Personnel so as to take advantage of knowledge sharing as well as increase their ability to better deliver on the development of tourism in the State.
She said, ‘I implore our Stakeholders particularly the private sector investors to take advantage of the investment opportunities that abound in Ogun State Tourism Industry by intensifying their collaboration with the State in “Building Our Future Together” in this regard’.
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