The historical town of Ado Awaye, in Iseyin local government area of Oyo state was alive today as scores of stakeholders in the tourism sectors, traditional rulers scores of local tourists converged to celebrate the world tourism day 2021.
World Tourism Day which was designed by World Tourism Organization is commemorated each year on 27 September to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value and the theme for this year is “Tourism for Inclusive Growth”
Stakeholders including National Association of Nigerian Travel Agency NANTA, Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria, FTAN, Oyo state Tourism board, Traditional Rulers, tourism and cultural enthusiasts and others gathered at to celebrate the event put in place by Oyo state government with Ado Awaye Tourism Heritage Development Initiative.
Iyake suspended lake in Ado Awaye is one of the potentials on the hill in the ancient community and it remains one of the major wonders in the world because of its uniqueness and historical background .
Hon Akeem Ademola Ige , special adviser to Governor Makinde on Tourism explained that the decision to celebrate tourism day at tourism sites is to further showcase the potentials to the world and attracts investors for proper development and we are not doing it alone , we are doing it in conjunction with the Ado Awaye community.
According to him” Governor Makinde’s is interested in promoting tourism because he understand the facts that tourism is another money spinner that will not only generate income but attracts more investors into the state so he has started with infrastructural development and we have also been receiving private investors on some of those projects and i am sure very soon the efforts will yield positive results.
Alado of Ado Awaye Oba Rev Olugbile Ademola Folakanmi and indigenes of the community organized a befitting program to celebrate the event, apart from inviting eminent personalities to grace the ocassion, they also appreciated and reward some people for their efforts toward the promotion and development of the community.
Oba Folakanmi in his remark appreciated Governor Seyi Makinde for considering the community for world tourism day 2021 and urge him not to relent in his efforts in making oyo state great” Already, we have tasted from your milk of kindness and we want more, especially on the transformation of the potential that we are endpwed with from a tourism sites to destination with all facilities that can attract the world to oyo state”
The keynote adress speaker Engineer Dotun Sanusi, Chief Executive Officer Ilaji hotel and resort while speaking on this year theme “Tourism for Inclusive Growth” said tourism Sector can be easily be transformed into a tremendous revenue earner if our tourism sites and potentials are fully developed into historical monuments, natural parks, holiday resorts etc where our rich cultural heritage can the showcased to the whole world.
“Today’s event is a demonstration of the fact that His Excellency, Engr. Seyi Makinde led government is fully committed to the development and promotion of tourism and tourists’ destinations within the state. The time to engage the stakeholders and vast professionals in this sector is right now. I will be glad to see a tourism master plan for Oyo state activated. Doing this will astronomically increase our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), an exercise this present administration has devoted its attention to since its assumption of office. There is no doubt that doing that will make Oyo State take its rightful position in Tourism in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. I wish everyone a fun filled and great exposure today as we explore this wonder freely given to us by God in Ado Awaye.”
Similarly, A legal luminary Ahmed Raji SAN in his remark commended Governor Seyi Makinde for the infrastructural development in Oke Ogun and other part of the state and urge him not to be overwhelm by the accolades but remain focus and consistent in his determination to take Oyo state a higher ground.
Raji who was represented by Dr Saheed Alaran, former council chairman , Iseyin local government maintained that the celebration of world tourism day in Ado Awaye is a demonstration of his passion for Tourism development in the state
Traditional rulers including Aseyin of Iseyin Oba Abduldaniyy Adekunle Ologunebi11, Okere of Saki, and others at the event lauded Governor Makinde and urge him to use the consider the potentials in the region as an assets that wil generate steady income for the state if properly annex.
The traditional rulers thanked the governor for his effort and urge him to continue to do more in developing oke ogun and oyo stat large.
Iseyin local government council chairman, Abilawon Muftau Osuolale in his remake said
the choice of Ado Awaye to celebrate the 2021 world tourism day is a bold step at showcasing the rich cultural potentials that are aboud in the local government to the global community and this event shall put Ado Awaye on the global tourism map and shall open doors for local and international patronage as well as economic development .
He added that the celebration of World Tourism Day 2021 in Ado Awaye is a landmark and a watershed in the history in the history of Iseyin local government because no government has ever chosen any tourism potential for world tourism day
” I wish to humbly appeal to your Excellency that to consolidate the gains of today’s event, all feature required to make Iyake Suspended lake
a world class tourism centre should be put in place. Top among the global standard for international tourists are, provision of an elevator, staircase with railings,portable water and electricity, security, fencing sheds and others. Alread the local government has fowarded letter on this and we are expecting desired response.
Some of the awardees includes Professor Adeolu Akande, Ambassador Debo Adesina, Engineer Dotun Sanusi, Alhaji Abass Oloko, Hon Akeem Ademola Ige, Erelu Funmi Rotiba, NANTA President, FTAN President, Mrs Yemisi Iranloye, Hon Kazeem Isiaka among others.
