Osun Osogbo festival: Don’t desecrate our sites, govt warns tourists

… unveils activities for maiden week-long Osun extravaganza, mega expo

In preparation for this year’s Osun Osogbo festival in August, the Osun state commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Abiodun Ojo, on Tuesday, unveiled activities for the maiden week-long Osun extravaganza and mega expo, with a warning to tourists not to desecrate the state’s sites.

The commissioner, who gave the warning while speaking with newsmen in Osogbo, advised them not to involve themselves in “Unhygienic practices” that could lead to the spread of germs, disease, or infection.

“When you go there, don’t desecrate the sites. Don’t go and do things that are not hygienic there.

“It is our collective project and responsibility to keep the sites in good condition,” he said.

Ojo advised them to stay away from littering the tourist sites in Osun with faeces to prevent the potential spread of germs that could be harmful to humanity.

He said, “The government is also charging you to pay for services you enjoy whenever you are on a visit to the sites to enable it to further improve the facilities available there, and generate revenue for the state.”

While saying that, the events were carefully arranged to meet the expectations of various participants, the commissioner disclosed that “all attendees at the programme are also expected to witness the grand finale of the annual Osun-Osogbo cultural festival.”

He listed the programme activities for the cultural fair as drawing, painting, dance and fashion competition, debate competition, cycling tourism challenge, historical tour of the state, corporate business presentations and cuisine training.

Affirming that Governor Adeleke’s administration has upgraded many tourist sites in the state, he called for the cooperation of people in the state to make those sites more vibrant.

“Encourage us too. Encourage the government to do more, and you will do that by paying for the services you enjoy at our sites. You go there, please pay. We are doing our best, and we will still do more,” he submitted.

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