Oyo will enhance Ado Awaye suspended lake —Commissioner

Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Prince Toye Arulogun , has revealed that  the state government has decided to enhance the tourist potential of Ado Awaye suspended lake.

The commissioner gave the assurance at the palace of Alado of Ado Awaye, Oba Ademola Olugile Folakanmi Makuledoye ii, when he led tourism professionals, developers, stakeholders and media personnel to celebrate, the  World Tourism Day.

He said “We are igniting the economic benefits of tourism in the whole of Africa, with Oyo State as the pace setter. These benefits such as employment opportunities, increase in the demand for locally produced products by tourists, opening of doors to industrialists, better standard of living,  and so many other benefits.

Tourism, as a sector, is the hope of Nigeria when time comes for the oil sector to deteriorate, just like the cocoa of the then Western Region.”

Prince Arulogun revealed “We have been working to promote historical, scientific, cultural, political and literary tourism in Oyo State. We have got letters from developers as regards the growth and development of Ado-Awaye as a tourist site. Ado Awaye in Oyo State is tremendously blessed with tourist assets, such as the suspended lake, elephant tree and so many others”.

In his remarks, Oba Makuledoye said it was the administration of Senator Ajimobi gave hope to the people of Ado Awaye by granting them a place of reckoning in the socio-political configuration of the state.

He said “It took the governor to settle the long-existing problem of local government council. This makes us to owe the governor an immortal gratitude.

“Tourism is the way forward for societies in Africa because we are deeply rooted in cultural heritage which is unique for tourism attractions.

“Geographically, Ado-Awaye is the centre of Oyo State. We are known to be experts in agricultural efficiency, but we are soliciting for the support of the state and federal government for life sustainability projects.”

Also, Oba Makuledoye thanked the Alaafin of Oyo,  Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, for his unrelenting support to the growth and development of tourism in Oyo State with regards to his contributions to festivals.

He said, “Due to the Sango festival in Oyo, Ado Awaye received tourists from Brazil, Cuba and other parts of South America because of the suspended lake. There is none of its kind in the whole of Africa, having her twin in Colorado in the United States. Ado Awaye has other tourism artifacts, such as elephant tree. It takes a collective effort to develop Ado Awaye as a World Tourism attraction front.”

Speaking for the community, pioneer caretaker chairman of the local government council, Mr Eyitayo Olukunle, commended Governor Ajimobi for his development strides and love for the people of the state.

He said “We are happy with the presence of the state government in the celebration of World Tourism Day in our area. We are deeply grateful beyond words.”

After the tour of the facilities, Director of Oyo State Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mrs Adejoke Agboola, said “I am sure that the potency of tourism is an essential economic enhancer. Everything here is not only awesome but it is a blessing to the people of Oyo State and we are ready for necessary steps to be taken for development.”