By Ismail Azeez, Osogbo
Governor Ademola Adeleke-led administration has promised to provide adequate security for the residents and tourists that will be visiting the state during and after the 2024 OsunOsogbo festival.
Speaking to journalists in Osogbo, Osun state capital on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism. Hon. AbiodunBankoleOjo said the present administration is serious about the lives and properties of the people.
Ojo described OsunOsogbo as one of the tourist centres that has the biggest natural forest with an expansion of land.
He stated that everything is set to take the festival to the next level by digitising the festival.
According to him, “Our government is working seriously on the security aspect, and there will be adequate security during OsunOsogbo festival this year because if there is no security, there wouldn’t be a festival. This year’s festival will be colourful and remarkable.”
The commissioner highlighted the importance of private partnerships in cultural, heritage tourist centres to achieve the goal.
He further said that Governor AdemolaAdeleke is trying all his possible best to provide an enabling environment for tourist sites to boost the state economy.
He said, “Our government has identified all our tourist centres in the state, but we can only do it one after the other. We have about 60 tourist centres in Osun State but the major ones are 16.
“We have been able to activate some kinetic potential in our cultural heritage and tourist sites. Owala Dam is like an activities creation dam for the people to relax in that it features canoeing and fishing. Sango Timi Ede in Ede has been prioritised and work is ongoing, Akunugba in Ila, and Ife we are working on them.
“Tourist and cultural centres are essentially local and mostly owned by the people. We don’t do it, only we collaborate with the people and work with them to ensure their involvement. Some are religious, and some are social and spiritual. It is the people who believe it that are doing it.
“But as a government our own responsibility is to provide an enabling environment and security for our residents. Osun with the ongoing projects in the state in the next six months people will be amazing,” he added.