Osun plans five-star hotel, tourism carnival
From Andrew Iro Okungbowa, Osogbo
MOVES are on in Osun State to boost the tourism industry just as it plans the first expedition carnival between September 27 and October 2.
The state government has, therefore, concluded plans to build a 100-room five star hotel in Osogbo, the state capital.
Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola disclosed this to The Guardian at the conclusion of this year's annual Osun/Osogbo International Cultural Festival. The decision to build the five-star hotel, he said, was based on the need to boost the tourism sector.
"I told you that you need a good hospitality background before you can develop anything called tourism. Nobody will come and spend his hard-earned money to be confronted with cockroaches and rats in the hotel he is going to stay. That is why the state has gone a step further to reach an agreement with a firm, which is being encouraged to build a hotel in the state".
According to the governor, the hotel project would be on the basis of Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) while the land is being provided by the state government. The hotel is also expected to have an 18-hole golf course attached to it.
"The stage we are in now is just signing the agreement for them to commence work", he said, adding that the hotel project would signal the commencement of promoting tourism in the state. "So, if that is done, it will be the beginning of our attempt to promote tourism", he said.
The governor also hinted on the creation of tourism ministry. "After that, I think I want to take another step forward by creating a tourism ministry, not just as a department in commerce and industry".
The new policy, he added, would also see to the packaging of tours and excursions to the state with the aim of having a tourism calendar.
"We want to package an excursion for a particular period so that it forms part of the tourism calendar of the nation and invariably that of the universe. "Maybe August and it will be in the tourism calendar for people to avail themselves to visit Osun State and see all the activities that will take place within the period. I believe that the climax will be this Osun-Osogbo ", Oyinlola added.
Earlier in his address at the Osun Grove, the governor drew attention to the premium that is placed on the sector because of its ability to "create employment, generate foreign exchange and create socio-cultural integration and international goodwill among nations".
The governor highlighted some of the actions taken in the last one year to shore up the sector. This, he said, include the creation of Osun State Tourism Board and Arts and Culture Board and government's effort at meeting the requirements of United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) for the listing of the Osun Grove as a world cultural heritage monument.
He added that the government is set to enter into technical partnership with the "relevant tourism agencies, which are ready to do business with the government for tourism infrastructural development and capacity building for effective utilisation of our tourism resources, assets and products abundant in the state".
Oyinlola expressed the desire of his administration to de-emphasise public sector dominance in the state's economy and "develop a viable, dynamic, highly-motivated, socially and environmentally responsible private sector, adding that the government will also encourage a strong public and private sector partnership".
As part of efforts at putting Osun on the world tourism map, Oyinlola revealed that the state plans to hold its first tourism carnival slated between September 27 and October 2.`
Senator President condemns Igbos for Anambra shrine saga
From Andrew Iro Okungbowa, Osogbo
THE Senate President Adolphus Wabara over the weekend condemned in its entirety the Igbo race for turning what ought to have served as a pride of place and cultural heritage into a den of evil and nefarious act.
The Senate President who was at great as he delivered his goodwill message to the people of Osun State at the grand finale of the annual Osun/Osogbo International Cultural Festival drew attention to the media report to a shrine in Okija area of Anambra State where the police bust a gang of priests who are alleged to have turned a section of Okija into an evil theatre were over 50 bodies and human skulls and skeletons were discovered.
Wabara, cloud in his traditional mode of dressing, stared his address on a happy note. "I am indeed very happy and I know that I have come with good tidings and messages. Good tidings of great joy to the great people of Osun State on this great day.'' Then followed his arcane knock on his fellow travellers-igbos. Obviously elated by what the people of Osun has turned the Osun forest and grove to-a mecca of spiritual renewal and social-cultural celebration, he called on his people to borrow a leaf from his host.
"I will want my people of Igbo extraction to borrow a leaf from what is happening here today. Because if you read the newspapers yesterday (Thursday last week), it would appeared that we (Igbos) convert our thick forest into some nefarious activities, but we are right in the grove here. The grove that was left for the good people of Osun State by their ancestors, which they have preserved. They have indeed preserved the culture and tradition of the people. But our people would use such heritage for some other wick activities.''
Now his admonish to his people. "I want us to go back home with whatever we have learnt here today on how to preserve nature, on how to preserve culture, rather than using our own shrine for evil. Since I have been here I am sure that I have not seen any corpse, whether fresh or old... But this is a preservation of culture.'' Meanwhile, Wabara also used the occasion to thank and pay tribute to his host, Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola for inviting him to be part of the historic event. "But before I go I thank the governpr of Osun State for inviting me and for making it possible for me to witness this in the land of the living and in our time.''
Tribute was also paid to the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Iyiola Oyewale Matanmi 111, in doing this, the Senate president took his audience by surprise when he switched from English to Yoruba in paying glowing homage to the oba and his people for their effort over the years in preserving their cultural heritage and tradition. He urged the traditional ruler to continue to rally his people and subjects in the celebration and preservation of this age-long festival.
