Oyetola inaugurates Cultural, Tourism Clubs in secondary schools
… Ministries of Culture, Education to collaborate to put clubs in shape
By Ismail Azeez, Osogbo
Governor of Osun State, Adegboyega Oyetola, has inaugurated Cultural and Tourism Clubs in all secondary schools in the State.
Oyetola during the inauguration of the School Cultural and Tourism Club on Thursday, held at technical college, Osogbo, Osun state capital, said that each private and public school in the state will be mandatory to do their excursion to state tourism sites once in a session.
The Governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Oluwole Oyebamiji further said that the government will be named each school club after a theatre Arts or Tourism icon in each locality either living or dead.
Oyetola urged all the teachers in the state to ensure the success of the strategy to make the dream to leave a legacy of sustainable for the development across sectors in the interest of the State.
He stressed that the Ministries of Culture and Education will collaborate to put the clubs in proper shape in all schools in the State.
He noted that if the schools implement the cultural tourism clubs in the schools the increasing cases of social vices will be checked as the students will be engaged in productive activities
According to the Governor, “Culture and Tourism are key areas that are worth students’ devotion as vast cultural tourism potential abounds in all Local Governments in the State which the youths can make use of for sustainability endeavours.
“Government has packaged the cultural tourism club in such a way to expose each student in public and private secondary schools to the rudiments and to identify talents for development among arts as well as all aspects of culture and innovations capable of making students self sustaining and culturally inclined.
“When all the schools establish tourism clubs, it will induce interest of the students, create jobs, reduce unemployment and make them compete in our State and a world full of opportunities and possibilities.
“Apart from this, it will promote domestic tourism through which wealth will be created through excursions with multiplier effects on entrepreneurship development.
“Our administration has continued to give priority to the development of the youths as the future leaders and has evolved more measures to mould, train and prepare them effectively for leadership.
“One of the strategies for developing our youths is the institution of the 4Es of our Youth Policy – Youth Engagement, Youth Education, Youth Entrepreneurship and Youth Empowerment –to integrate our youths into our sustainable development plan,” he added.
In her welcome address the Coordinating Director, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mrs Sola Akinsola said that brain behind the cultural and tourism club is to identify talented children, catch them young and mentor them to develop sense of respect for local materials.
According to her, the idea of cultural tourism by the State Government is designed to ensure all round development of students in secondary schools by setting the stage early in life to allow them have an opportunity to demonstrate their God-given talents from childhood.
“A cultural and tourism club in each school is to provide opportunities for the students to organise themselves to learn more about the Yoruba cultural heritage. promote tourism and indigenous science knowledge,” she said.
