Oyo State Government has promised to collaborate with the Federal Government and other stakeholders on development of tourist potentials in the State, adding that it is poised to make the state a hub of tourism in Nigeria.
Commissioner of Information, Culture & Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun stated this at the Old Oyo National park, during a State-wide working visit to some abandoned tourist sites in Oyo State.
While he decried the unpleasant state of some Oyo-State owned sites such as: the Iyamapo hill, Agbele hill, Oke-okin hill (all in Igbeti), Royal cemetery (Igboho), he also indicated that the State Government is ready to synergize with the management of the Old Oyo National park on improving sites like the Akoko base camp (Sepeteri) and Koso Relics, Oyo.
He added that the State Government would assess the tourist sites, potentials embedded in them and resuscitate some of the sites, with the aim of improving tourism in the state.
Olatunbosun hinted that Oyo state has 115 Tourist sites which could be developed to compete favourably with obtainable international standards, noting that this would attract investors which would likewise improve Oyo State’s economy and its internally generated revenue.
The Commissioner therefore called on potential investors, residents and indigenes of Oyo State to support the Governor Seyi Makinde led administration in its efforts to boost the state’s economy through tourism.
In his remarks, the Conservator of the Old Oyo Park Mr. Joseph Asham opined that the effort of the state govt has really been instrumental towards a healthy relationship with the management staff of the old Oyo national park.
He reiterated that the old Oyo National park, which is one of the seven national parks has a land mass of 2512 square metres, with a coverage area of 10 local govt and 115 communities.
He added that the park derived its name from the old Oyo kingdom as it encompasses relics of the old Oyo kingdom and has a rich history which best describes the cultural and traditional components of the people.
