Valentine’s Day: Oyo govt organises cruise on Eleyele Lake

The Oyo State Government is set to host the first-ever Ibadan Valentine Cruise on Eleyele Lake this Friday.

The state’s Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatunbosun, announced this on Monday during a press conference held at the Eleyele Waterfront in Ibadan.

The conference, held in anticipation of the Valentine’s Day celebration, is centred around the event titled “Valentine Cruise.”

According to Olatunbosun, the state government is collaborating with Royal Entertainment Cruise to organise the event.

The commissioner explained that the cruise aims to promote peace, love, friendship, admiration, and tolerance among both residents and visitors in the state.

He also highlighted that the event would help promote aquatic tourism, create job opportunities, and boost the state’s income and economy.

Olatunbosun further noted that the current administration had been successful in fostering an environment conducive to the growth of tourism.

He revealed that the state government had registered 12,128 hospitality businesses for proper monitoring and coordination. These businesses include hotels, nightclubs, event centres, eateries/restaurants, and tour operators.

The number of registered hospitality ventures has risen from 1,328 in December 2019 to 12,128 in February 2025, which Olatunbosun attributed to the supportive environment created for investors by the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of Royal Entertainment Cruise, Dr Sanni Bamidele, explained that his company partnered with the state government to help boost tourism in Oyo State.

Bamidele pointed out that Oyo State boasts several tourist attractions and is making significant strides in tourism development.

He commended the state government’s efforts in promoting culture and tourism, assuring participants that adequate security and safety measures would be in place during the cruise. He also promised that the event would offer a variety of positive experiences for all attendees.