Tourism has never had it this good in Ondo State. Never before in the 33-year history of the Sunshine State has one administration devoted so much fund and energy into making the state the number one tourists’ destination in the country.
Suddenly world attention is suddenly shifting to the tourism potentials of the state, which hitherto had suffered decades of neglect. And, sooner than ever thought possible, if all things go according to plans, the ancient and historical Oke Idanre (Idanre Hills), in the Idanre Local Government Area of the state would be listed on the Heritage List of the United Nation Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
It was as a result of the administration’s seriousness and determination to expand the state’s economic base that it created the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 2004, with the sole aim of accelerating the growth and development of the rich cultural and tourism potentials of the state. Prior this time, successive administrations had only paid lip service to the tourism potential of the state.
No sooner than he entered office that Agagu made the intention of his administration to make the state the number one tourists’ destination point in the country known to all. But the challenges that confronted them at the beginning were enormous.
The challenges ranged from lack of policy direction to non availability of any blueprint for tourism by successive governments since the state was created in 1976, As a matter of fact, the administration had to build from the scratch.
At the end of the administration’s first term in May, 2007, the Agagu administration had successfully formulated a policy direction that was aimed at identifying the viable tourists’ centers and the various cultural festivals calendar in the state.
In 2007 alone, the sum of N1million was released for the effective packaging of some notable cultural festivals into discs for the benefit of both local and international tourists’ audience.
The sum of N356.66million approved as capital expenditure for the Tourism Board in the 2008 budget was enough prove of the administration’s determination to make its dream of making Ondo State top on the list of tourism sites in the country.
It has never been in doubt that Ondo State is blessed with a variety of rich cultural and tourism attractions. Unlike other states of the federation, Ondo State is unique with its spread of rich and beautiful cultural festivals which cut across the three senatorial districts of the state.
For example, while the historical Igogo festival of the Owo people is always a beauty to behold, the Ariginya festival in Ikare, Orosun festival in Idanre, Ogun in Ondo and boat regatta in the riverine areas, among others are all beautiful and entertaining festivals that would rank among the best anywhere in the world.
In the same vein, Ondo State is blessed with several tourists’ centres whose historical and artistic values are unparalleled. They include the Idanre Hills, Ebomi Lake at Ipesi Akoko, the famous Igbo Eledumare at Oke-Igbo, Oke Maria at Oka-Akoko, Isharun Cave of ashes, Owo Museum of antiquities, Coastal beaches, Creeks and the Olokola Free Trade Zone among several others.
The Agagu-led administration is determined to ensure that all the tourists’ centres in the state meet international standards. Towards this end, government has identified the Idanre Hills as a tourists’ centre with huge potentials. It has therefore put in place measures to enlist the Oke-Idanre (Idanre Hills) in the UNESCO World Heritage List. A letter of intention, personally signed by Dr. Agagu has been submitted at the UNESCO headquarters in Rome.
As part of other several other steps being taken to ensure that the Idanre Hills get enlisted on the UNESCO Heritage List, the administration has approved funds for the renovation, construction and restoration of some of the notable public buildings in the ancient village on the hills. These include the old school, the old court house, the mausoleum, the Odofin and Asunrin shrine and the famous ancient Owa’s palace. Meanwhile, plans are at advance stage to award the contract for the renovation of all the existing chalets on the top of the hills.
In no distant future, Idanre would be the first choice tourists’ destination of fun seekers in south of the country. Perhaps, the icing on the cake for this laudable project would be the construction of an 18-hole golf course at Itosin, Idanre. The sum of N18million has been released for the payment of compensation to those whose land was acquired for the golf course project. Also, the contract for the construction of the field for the golf course has been awarded at the cost of N208 million. Plans are at advance stage to award the contract for the construction of other auxiliary facilities like swimming pool, lawn tennis court and club house among others.
The government is not leaving any stone unturned in this highly commendable venture to put Ondo State on the world map of tourists’ destination points. Efforts are being made to secure the Hills from unwanted intruders. To this end, a contract has been awarded for the fencing of the entrance, including the erection of a beautiful gate.
Also, to encourage visitors to the site, the administration embarked on the construction of steps that would make climbing the huge hills easier while at the same time catching their fun. In addition to all these, contract for the construction of a 200-seater capacity hall, which will also serve as exhibition hall.
Today, Idanre Hills have started to attract tourists from across the country who have started to enjoy the convenience of climbing the hills with the newly constructed steps which effort less tedious, but equally a life-changing experience for fun seekers.
In anticipation of the expected surge in the numbers of tourists that will soon make Ondo State their destination point, the administration, in conjunction with business conglomerate, NICON Group, is investing in the state’s hospitality industry to the tune of over N2 billion. The first of the hotels will be sited in Idanre to complement tourism drive of the state. This development, apart from shoring up the state revenue base, will as well provide job opportunities to thousands of indigenes of the state.The hotel, which is a partnership between NICON Group and the state governmenton 70 to 30 equities, will be replicated in, Owo, Okitipupa, Odigbo, Ondo and Ikare Akoko.
The choice of Idanre as the take off point for the hotels is part of efforts to boost the tourism industry in the state, with a view to complementing various efforts of the administration to realise the goal of harnessing the tourist potentials the ancient town and making it the first tourists’ destination point in the country. Also, the contract for the construction of the field for a 18-hole golf course with a befitting club house has been awarded at the cost of N207, 986,983.21. This is in addition to plans to repackage the popular ancient Orosun Cultural Festival for global attraction.Plans are equally at advance stage to award the contract for the construction of other auxiliary facilities like swimming pool, lawn tennis court and club house among others.
For the youthful and energetic Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Eng. Dele Osakuade, the Idanre Hills project is set to open the gates of the sunshine state’s hospitality to the rest of the world. Osakuade maintained that huge success recorded by the project in the last four years was the result of the dynamic leadership quality of the governor.
Hear him: “We owe everything to our good leader and governor. The aspiration of the administration under the dynamic leadership of Dr. Olusegun Agagu is to use culture in creating employment for our teeming young people, and also to serve as a viable pool for young artists to replace the ageing ones who have for sometimes abandoned this important aspect of our culture.”
It was on the shoulder of these strings of achievements that the commissioner stood with broad smiles as he reeled out the administration’s success stories and its cultural march to make Ondo State the El Dorado of culture and tourism in Nigeria. According to him, the administration, since it came on board in 2003, has initiated several programmes aimed at promoting culture and tourism.
The programmes include cultural programmes for secondary schools in the state, empowerment programme for rural women, proper funding of the state cultural troupe, participation in national cultural events, acquisition of artifacts and the resuscitation of the state festival of culture among several others.
Osakuade explains: “This administration has done a lot in the promotion of culture. In realization of the vision of the state government that tourism cannot develop without cultural promotion, the ministry has committed huge sum of money to package some cultural festivals for local and international tourism promotion.”
Continuing, the commissioner explained that the state government has approved the assessment, packaging and promotion of four notable traditional festivals into carnival status. “In our resolve to turn Ondo State into a tourism goldmine, government has approved for assessment four notable festivals for promotion. The festivals include the Ogun festival at Ondo and Ile-Oluji, Orosun at Idanre, Igogo at Owo and the Boat Regatta in the riverine areas. It is our belief that these beautiful festivals will attract large numbers of local and international tourists, researchers and other visitors.”
The Agagu-led administration’s commitment to the promotion of culture and tourism in Ondo State is fast transforming the state that it would take little time for it to emerge the preferred tourists’ destination in Nigeria.
Above all, Osakuade is excited that the effort would create jobs for the people of the state, while the internally generated revenue efforts of the government would get a big boost with its attendant improvement in people’s standard of living. “You can see that the effort of our dynamic governor is fast yielding positive results for the state. I can assure you that in little time to come, Ondo State would be the first on the list of choice places for tourists.”
Suddenly world attention is suddenly shifting to the tourism potentials of the state, which hitherto had suffered decades of neglect. And, sooner than ever thought possible, if all things go according to plans, the ancient and historical Oke Idanre (Idanre Hills), in the Idanre Local Government Area of the state would be listed on the Heritage List of the United Nation Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
It was as a result of the administration’s seriousness and determination to expand the state’s economic base that it created the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 2004, with the sole aim of accelerating the growth and development of the rich cultural and tourism potentials of the state. Prior this time, successive administrations had only paid lip service to the tourism potential of the state.
No sooner than he entered office that Agagu made the intention of his administration to make the state the number one tourists’ destination point in the country known to all. But the challenges that confronted them at the beginning were enormous.
The challenges ranged from lack of policy direction to non availability of any blueprint for tourism by successive governments since the state was created in 1976, As a matter of fact, the administration had to build from the scratch.
At the end of the administration’s first term in May, 2007, the Agagu administration had successfully formulated a policy direction that was aimed at identifying the viable tourists’ centers and the various cultural festivals calendar in the state.
In 2007 alone, the sum of N1million was released for the effective packaging of some notable cultural festivals into discs for the benefit of both local and international tourists’ audience.
The sum of N356.66million approved as capital expenditure for the Tourism Board in the 2008 budget was enough prove of the administration’s determination to make its dream of making Ondo State top on the list of tourism sites in the country.
It has never been in doubt that Ondo State is blessed with a variety of rich cultural and tourism attractions. Unlike other states of the federation, Ondo State is unique with its spread of rich and beautiful cultural festivals which cut across the three senatorial districts of the state.
For example, while the historical Igogo festival of the Owo people is always a beauty to behold, the Ariginya festival in Ikare, Orosun festival in Idanre, Ogun in Ondo and boat regatta in the riverine areas, among others are all beautiful and entertaining festivals that would rank among the best anywhere in the world.
In the same vein, Ondo State is blessed with several tourists’ centres whose historical and artistic values are unparalleled. They include the Idanre Hills, Ebomi Lake at Ipesi Akoko, the famous Igbo Eledumare at Oke-Igbo, Oke Maria at Oka-Akoko, Isharun Cave of ashes, Owo Museum of antiquities, Coastal beaches, Creeks and the Olokola Free Trade Zone among several others.
The Agagu-led administration is determined to ensure that all the tourists’ centres in the state meet international standards. Towards this end, government has identified the Idanre Hills as a tourists’ centre with huge potentials. It has therefore put in place measures to enlist the Oke-Idanre (Idanre Hills) in the UNESCO World Heritage List. A letter of intention, personally signed by Dr. Agagu has been submitted at the UNESCO headquarters in Rome.
As part of other several other steps being taken to ensure that the Idanre Hills get enlisted on the UNESCO Heritage List, the administration has approved funds for the renovation, construction and restoration of some of the notable public buildings in the ancient village on the hills. These include the old school, the old court house, the mausoleum, the Odofin and Asunrin shrine and the famous ancient Owa’s palace. Meanwhile, plans are at advance stage to award the contract for the renovation of all the existing chalets on the top of the hills.
In no distant future, Idanre would be the first choice tourists’ destination of fun seekers in south of the country. Perhaps, the icing on the cake for this laudable project would be the construction of an 18-hole golf course at Itosin, Idanre. The sum of N18million has been released for the payment of compensation to those whose land was acquired for the golf course project. Also, the contract for the construction of the field for the golf course has been awarded at the cost of N208 million. Plans are at advance stage to award the contract for the construction of other auxiliary facilities like swimming pool, lawn tennis court and club house among others.
The government is not leaving any stone unturned in this highly commendable venture to put Ondo State on the world map of tourists’ destination points. Efforts are being made to secure the Hills from unwanted intruders. To this end, a contract has been awarded for the fencing of the entrance, including the erection of a beautiful gate.
Also, to encourage visitors to the site, the administration embarked on the construction of steps that would make climbing the huge hills easier while at the same time catching their fun. In addition to all these, contract for the construction of a 200-seater capacity hall, which will also serve as exhibition hall.
Today, Idanre Hills have started to attract tourists from across the country who have started to enjoy the convenience of climbing the hills with the newly constructed steps which effort less tedious, but equally a life-changing experience for fun seekers.
In anticipation of the expected surge in the numbers of tourists that will soon make Ondo State their destination point, the administration, in conjunction with business conglomerate, NICON Group, is investing in the state’s hospitality industry to the tune of over N2 billion. The first of the hotels will be sited in Idanre to complement tourism drive of the state. This development, apart from shoring up the state revenue base, will as well provide job opportunities to thousands of indigenes of the state.The hotel, which is a partnership between NICON Group and the state governmenton 70 to 30 equities, will be replicated in, Owo, Okitipupa, Odigbo, Ondo and Ikare Akoko.
The choice of Idanre as the take off point for the hotels is part of efforts to boost the tourism industry in the state, with a view to complementing various efforts of the administration to realise the goal of harnessing the tourist potentials the ancient town and making it the first tourists’ destination point in the country. Also, the contract for the construction of the field for a 18-hole golf course with a befitting club house has been awarded at the cost of N207, 986,983.21. This is in addition to plans to repackage the popular ancient Orosun Cultural Festival for global attraction.Plans are equally at advance stage to award the contract for the construction of other auxiliary facilities like swimming pool, lawn tennis court and club house among others.
For the youthful and energetic Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Eng. Dele Osakuade, the Idanre Hills project is set to open the gates of the sunshine state’s hospitality to the rest of the world. Osakuade maintained that huge success recorded by the project in the last four years was the result of the dynamic leadership quality of the governor.
Hear him: “We owe everything to our good leader and governor. The aspiration of the administration under the dynamic leadership of Dr. Olusegun Agagu is to use culture in creating employment for our teeming young people, and also to serve as a viable pool for young artists to replace the ageing ones who have for sometimes abandoned this important aspect of our culture.”
It was on the shoulder of these strings of achievements that the commissioner stood with broad smiles as he reeled out the administration’s success stories and its cultural march to make Ondo State the El Dorado of culture and tourism in Nigeria. According to him, the administration, since it came on board in 2003, has initiated several programmes aimed at promoting culture and tourism.
The programmes include cultural programmes for secondary schools in the state, empowerment programme for rural women, proper funding of the state cultural troupe, participation in national cultural events, acquisition of artifacts and the resuscitation of the state festival of culture among several others.
Osakuade explains: “This administration has done a lot in the promotion of culture. In realization of the vision of the state government that tourism cannot develop without cultural promotion, the ministry has committed huge sum of money to package some cultural festivals for local and international tourism promotion.”
Continuing, the commissioner explained that the state government has approved the assessment, packaging and promotion of four notable traditional festivals into carnival status. “In our resolve to turn Ondo State into a tourism goldmine, government has approved for assessment four notable festivals for promotion. The festivals include the Ogun festival at Ondo and Ile-Oluji, Orosun at Idanre, Igogo at Owo and the Boat Regatta in the riverine areas. It is our belief that these beautiful festivals will attract large numbers of local and international tourists, researchers and other visitors.”
The Agagu-led administration’s commitment to the promotion of culture and tourism in Ondo State is fast transforming the state that it would take little time for it to emerge the preferred tourists’ destination in Nigeria.
Above all, Osakuade is excited that the effort would create jobs for the people of the state, while the internally generated revenue efforts of the government would get a big boost with its attendant improvement in people’s standard of living. “You can see that the effort of our dynamic governor is fast yielding positive results for the state. I can assure you that in little time to come, Ondo State would be the first on the list of choice places for tourists.”
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