By Adesoji OMOSEBI
The State of Osun under the leadership of Governor Gboyega Oyetola celebrated the World Tourism Day in the state capital, Osogbo with series of activities which includes Road Walk, Cultural Displays, Lectures which made the day a day of going back to our cultural heritage we had earlier ignored.
The day’s activities as coordinated by the Coordinating Director, Mr Sam Adeniyi commenced with a Road Walk from Nelson Mandela Freedom Park to Centre for Black Culture where other series of activities were held.
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It was unanimously agreed that the Commissioner nominee, Dr Obawale Adebisi played his role as the Secretary of Ministry of Home Affairs, Culture and Tourism on Kareke Oodua project and his recognition and promotion of tourist sites in Osun.
First lecture was delivered by the Director of History Museum, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Prof. Adisa Ogunfolakan. Prof Ogunfolakan said, “What we are looking for in Sokoto is in our ‘sokoto’, meaning, the yearly tourism we go for in Jerusalem and Mecca are here with us in Osun.
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He took us to various tourist attractions like, Ile Oduduw, Oranmiyan Staff, Kiriji War site, Olumirin Water Falls and many other sites that could raise the stare’s economy to the highest pedestal.
Mrs Caroline Ogunlade delivered a lecture titled: TOURISM & JOBS: A BETTER FUTURE FOR ALL.
According to her, the way forward is put new policies in place to maximise TOURISM to create more and better jobs and also to provide workers with the skills needed for future work of TOURISM in Osun
Dr. Tijani Nasiru, National Institute and Hospitality also delivered a short lecture on hospitality.
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The cultural displays exhibited by the cultural troupes at the event compelled the MC of the day, Mr Oyesiku ADELU to advise the organizer, Dr Obawale to set a day aside to promote Osun cultural troupes to an all-day competition to harness our cultural heritage.
Among the traditional troupes that thrilled the audience are; Ablat, Oludare, Ogunjimi, Olaifa Masquerade who was said to be a graduate in one of Nigerian university.
“He was a masquerade with academic touch that needs government support to project Yoruba culture to outside world.”
The Deputy Governor, Gboyaga Alabi was represented by his Senior Special Assistant, Mr Yinka Omiwale. The father of the day was the Onifon of Ifon, HRM Oba Al-Maroof Magbagbeola.
Equally present are all the stakeholders in tourism sector which includes, ANTP, Exodus International Academy, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Miss Tourism West Africa, Queen Aderemi and a host of others.
www.sojworldnews.com (c) September 27, 2019
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