The Ado-Awaye Community in the Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State on Monday, September 27, 2021, hosted this year’s World Tourism day celebration in grand style.
The ceremony took place at the foot of Ado Hill, Ago-Afifn, Ado-Awaye, under the Distinguished Special Guest of Honour, the Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde, represented by the Special Assistance to the Governor on Tourism, Hon. Ademola Akeem Ige, and Barrister Shittu Raji (SAN) the Iseyin born Legal Luminary and astute philanthropist, as the Chairman of the occasion. It featured programmes such as Cultural Dancing, Documentary, Public Lecture, Merit Award presentation, Poetic Recitation, Conferment of Tourist Ambassadorial titles and Book Launch, among others.
In his welcome address, the Alado of Ado-Awaye kingdom who is also the Chairman Ado-Awaye Tourism Heritage Development Initiative (ATHID), Oba Folakanmi said, “I cannot begin to tell you how happy I am today that the Oyo State Government machinery is assembled here at Ado-Awaye to celebrate this year’s WTD. I can only thank God Almighty that this day has come and by His grace, the potentials of our small but pristine community will get the attention of the whole world.”
Oba Folakanmi, who thanked Governor Makinde for approving the event to be celebrated at Ado Awaye enumerated the potentialities of Iyake Suspended Lake in Ado Awaye, Oyo State, which he described as unique “because of its outstanding universal value of being the only recognised suspended lake in the world with comparative advantages over any other artificial one like the one in Colorado, USA.”
The monarch sought Government involvement at all levels to develop the Iyake suspended Lake and other tourist attractions on Ado Hill, towards improving the economic life of the people in the state.
He mentioned some major needs for government to assist in as including rehabilitation of the steps leading to Ado Hill, construction of perimeter fence around Iyake Lake and construction of roads leading to Ado Hill Tourist Center, among others.
Oba Folakanmi then informed the state Governor about the incoming Iyake Festival by December 1-5 this year, and his intention to organise Oke-Ogun Tourism Club to promote tourism development in the state.
The Chairman of the occasion, Barrister Shittu Raji, represented by the former Chairman of Iseyin Local Government, Alhaji Saheed Adejare (Alaran) in his keynote address appreciated Governor Makinde for his leadership style and his strong desire in transforming the state into a better one than what he met it.
Barrister Shittu stated that tourism sites across the state should be developed to boost the state economic potential and propel the economic sustainability of the people.
He, therefore, encouraged the State Government to do the necessity to develop Ado hill tourism centre for a life-changing.
Adejare said Barrister Raji’s support for the developmental drives of Governor Makinde remained sacrosanct.
Meanwhile, the Guest Speaker of the day, Engineer Dotun Sanusi, the Chief Executive Officer, Alhaji Farms Limited, in his lecture, titled “Tourism for inclusive economic growth and sustainability,” delivered by his Assistant said, “Government at various levels should behold tourism as one of the potentials that need to be harnessed for the economic growth”.
He stated further, “that premium should be placed on possible ways of harnessing all the tourism sites that abound in our areas for economic development.”
The Iseyin Local Government scribe, the Host Local Government Chairman at the event, Hon. Mufutau Abilawon in his address said, “this is a clear demonstration of the genuine love of Governor Seyi Makinde for Iseyin Local Government and Oke-Ogun region in general.”
Abilawon, who described the Iyake Suspended Lake as the only one in the world encouraged Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration to develop the site for the economic advancement of the state.
The Iseyin born politician equally encouraged the Government to carry out some rehabilitation of some of the existing infrastructures at the centre and construction of major new ones, such as rallies, roads to Ado hill tourism centre, lift, among others for the benefits of the masses as earlier planned before. Hon Abilawon appreciated Governor Makinde for the Good road network across the nooks and cranny of the State, Iseyin Local Government in particular which according to him has contributed greatly to the success of the WTD hosting event. He concluded by pledging the continuous support of his people to the Government of Engineer Makinde at all times.
The SA to the Governor on Tourism, Hon. Ademola Akeem Ige, while delivering Governor Makinde’s keynote address congratulated Kabiyesi Alado of Ado Awaye and the entire people of the town for a successful hosting of this year’s WTD event.
He especially appreciated His Royal Majesty, Oba Ademola Folakanmi for the love and undiluted passion he has for his subjects and the development of his town as manifested, especially in his continuous visit to the sit of the Government to achieve a successful result of today’s event.
Furthermore, Hon Ige reiterated the Government’s readiness to develop the Iyake Tourism Centre through a public-private partnership arrangement.
The Okere of Saki Land, Oba Dr Khalid Oyebisi, Ilufemiloye, while speaking on behalf of other Royal fathers at the occasion, said that the Government of Engineer Seyi Makinde has done wonderfully well in the last two years of his administration, “especially for the people of the Oke-Ogun region in the State.”
Oba Ilufemiloye said that “I am elated about the good things that are happening currently at Ado-Awaye during the time of Oba Folakanmi.” He then encouraged the indigenes to cooperate with Oba Alado in his developmental drive.
He enjoined Governor Makinde to develop Ado Awaye Tourist Centre to enable it to compete with other tourist sites in the world.
Speaking at the event during the launching of the book, authored by the Alado of Ado-Awaye, Oba Rev’d Ademola Olugbile Folakanmi, titled, “Iyake Suspended Lake: The Pride of Africa”, Dr Dare Akande, the Proprietor, American Polytechnic, Wasimi, Ado-Awaye, who was the Chief Launcher, commended Engineer Makinde for the hosting right and the good governance in the state as shown in his developmental projects.
Dr Akande opined that, for the tourism sector to be developed, it needed the joint efforts of all the stakeholders, and in the right direction.
He, therefore, appealed to Governor Makinde-led to develop Iyake Suspended Lake Tourism Centre for the economic enhancement of the locals and the state in general.
Dr Akande revealed that he has been able to secure approval for the construction of Mini Airport at the Campus of the American Polytechnic Wasim, to create an easy way to the mountain top for tourists.
Other Royal fathers present at the event were, Aseyin of Iseyin Land, Oba Abdul-Ganiyu Salaudeen Oloogun-Ebi; Alawaye of Awaye, Oba Amidu Okunlola; Olokaka of Okaka, Olu of Igboora, Iba of Kishi, Ona Onibode of Igboho, Eleyinpo of Ipapo, Oluaso of Iberekodo, among others.
Other dignitaries were Hon. Dele Adeola, representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju State Constituency; Mr Ademola Babalola, Oyo State NUJ Chairman; DG, Nigeria National Museum and Monument, Nigeria Tourism Development Cooperation (NTDC), PS Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Oyo State, Local Government Chairmen, Party Stalwarts. Others were Spiritual fathers, Security men and Gentlemen of the press, Canada Participate (NGO), ANDROM HOME, Federal Ministry of Information Culture and Tourism, Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria. (FTAN), Mrs Susan Akpoboire (NANTA President), Erelu Funmi Rotiba, (CEO Imperial House of Culture Ltd), Ambassador Wale Ojo-Lanre, (SSA on Culture and Tourism, Ekiti State), Seun Bolaji, (MD, Naija Explorer) and Mr Ikechi Uko, (President, 7Wonders of Nigeria, CEO, Akwaba Travels Market), among others.
