Ogun eyes revenue from tourism to boost economic growth
…As Miss Tourism Ogun 2015 emerges
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NIGERIA: FROM the Ogun State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Chief Adedayo Adeneye, has come cheering news to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Adeneye said that his ministry was fully prepared to collaborate with the Culture and Tourism counterpart in order to enhance the abundant resources available in the tourism sector to boost the economy of the state.
The Commissioner, who promised this good working relationship, spoke at the maiden edition of Miss Tourism Ogun, a contest put together to showcase beauty and talents among students of tertiary institutions across the 20 local government areas in the state, held in Ota, Ogun State.
The Commissioner pointed out that a merger of tourism and beauty pageantry would foster socio-economic development of the state and also boost the country’s entertainment industry.
Adeneye, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr. Ibikunle Onasanya, said that it became imperative to start harnessing the various tourism potentials across the state such as the famous Olumo Rock, Igbo Lisabi in Abeokuta, Bilikisu Sugbo Shrine, Yemoji Natural Swimming Pool in Ijebu Ode without leaving out Oroona in Ilaro and Osuuru Spring in Imeko among other cultural and traditional sites through which eco-tourism can thrive.
“Concerted efforts have been put in place by the present administration through the rehabilitation of our tourist centres spread across the three senatorial districts in order to attract foreign investors to the State,” he said.
The Ministry of Information and Strategy will therefore begin collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to improve the various potentials in the area of culture and tourism to increase Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and number of visitors to the State, the commissioner emphasised.
Speaking in the same vein, the Ogun State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Bashorun Muyiwa Oladipo, stressed that the state is blessed with various talents and endowed with mineral resources, which if maximally harnessed would boost the state’s socio-economic resources.
Oladipo also commended the organisers of the event and assured on government’s readiness to boost, sustain and promote tourism which is fast becoming a major investment opportunity all over the world.
High-point of the event was the beauty and intellectual competition among the 20 contestants selected across the 20 local government areas.
At the end of the keenly contested show, Miss Ayoola Akinlawon from Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government area of the State emerged as Miss Tourism Ogun 2015 winner, while Miss Adeola Adefuye who represented Ifo Local Government and Miss Damilola Damson from Iperu emerged as the first and second runners-up.
In his key note address, the organiser of the event, Mr. Oladapo Olalekan appreciated the State Government for its contribution towards the successful hosting of the first edition of the event.
