Oyebanji to partner FG on tourism as Minister, hikers storm Ekiti for mountain sports
By Samuel Ogunsona
For the first time since Ekiti was created in 1996, the vast mountains of the ancient kingdoms are now to be exploited for health, cash and fun.
As hikers storm the state, an excited Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji expressed readiness to partner with the Federal Ministry of Tourism and international concerns to harness and develop untapped tourism potentials of the state and make the state a leading tourism destination in the country.
The mountain hiking is expected to energise the younger population and create a new spirit of sportsmanship and competition which is expected to even create jobs and open up fresh windows of opportunities for locals.
Ekiti is home to rolling hills, luscious forests and spiralling valleys making the state one of the most beautiful places on earth.
But for centuries, apart from using the mountains as shield in ancient times of war, the sports and tourism potentials have not been explored. Experts say Mr Oyebanji has recorded another historic feat in his drive to turn a largely agrarian state into an economic hub.
Governor Oyebanji spoke l on Monday during the 6th edition of Hike Ekiti Mountain safari which took place at Abanijorin Mountain and cave, in Iyin- Ekiti.
In attendance at the event were the Minister of Tourism, Mrs. Lola Ade-John, Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye; Speaker Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Adeoye Aribasoye; Director General of NIHOTOUR, Alhaji Nura Kangiwa, among others.
The Governor said a properly harnessed tourism industry has the capacity to reshape the economy and improve the revenue base of the state, stressing that the state would leverage on tourism to attract investment, create jobs, boost the local economy and drive the shared prosperity agenda of his administration.
While expressing his gratitude to the Minister for the visit and her commitment to tourism development in the country, the Governor said her commitment speaks to the quality of people working with President Bola Ahmed Timubu to actualize the renewed hope agenda of the President.
Governor Oyebanji revealed that he has charged the state Bureau of Tourism Development to come up with the state’s tourism development master-plan in alignment with the Federal Ministry of Tourism vision to create an enabling environment for the people to prosper.
“I’m so excited that finally, we are giving life to this programme. It started six years ago and I know and am convinced that if we are going to drive our shared prosperity agenda in Ekiti state, tourism is a critical factor in ensuring that we provide job, create wealth and also emplaced a healthy and productive society.
“As a government, we have charged the bureau of tourism development to create a desirable tourism masterplan for the state, because that is what is going to drive our intervention in the tourism sector and we will further collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Tourism by ensuring that we align our own plan with their own so that together we can create an enabling environment for our people to prosper”. The Governor asserted.
Earlier in her remarks, the Minister of Tourism, Mrs. Lola Ade-John, who said the purpose of her visit was to encourage and promote the eco-tourism sector of the state, lauded Governor Oyebanji’s commitment to tourism development, especially the creation of a Bureau of tourism.
She maintained that Governor Oyebanji’s determination to prioritize tourism aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s led federal government’s resolve to boost the nation’s economy through tourism development.
The Minister, who maintained that collaboration among government entities, tourism agencies, business and communities global is crucial for promoting sustainable tourism in the state, assured the Governor that her ministry would continue to support the state government to explore and tap into various beautiful tourist sites in the state in order to preserve the natural heritage for future generations.
She urged the participants to use the opportunity to contribute to the development of tourism in the state as she acknowledged that the future of Ekiti tourism looks promising .
” Collaboration among government entities, tourism agencies, business and communities global is crucial for promoting sustainable tourism in Ekiti state and beyond and as affirmed by the Governor, he is very passionate about tourism and he intends on making tourism in the state as enviable and as an example to other state in Nigeria “. The Minister said.
Meanwhile, the Governor in company of the Minister and her team had earlier visited the palace of the Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti, Oba Adeniyi Ajakaye where they were informed about the various natural endowments in the community as well as the history behind the mountain “Okuta Aba ni Jorin” and solicited government’s support in preserving the cultural heritage.
