Stakeholder Advocates Rebranding of Osun Osogbo Festival

By Dunni Thomas

The need to rebrand and promote Osun Osogbo and other cultural festivals to attract investors has again been emphasised.

A professor of history and the Executive Director, Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding, Siyan Oyeweso made the call in Osogbo during a programme organised in commemoration of this year’s World Tourism Day.

This is even as Osun State governor, Gboyega Oyetola described tourism as a veritable path to economy growth.

Tagged “Rethinking Tourism” the programme organised by Osun State government centered around discussion on development of cultural and tourism potentials of Osun State.

The annual event also focused on sensitizing and creating awareness on the impact of tourism towards economy development.

Speaking, Prof. Oyeweso said the tourism Industry requires repositioning to tap into its diverse inherent benefits which include provision of job opportunities.

Prof. Oyeweso used the opportunity to call on the state government to curb activities of illegal miners which led the contamination of Osun river.

He said, the Osun river water which is believed be concoction is now highly polluted, acidic and dangerous to health.

He decried activities of the illegal mining as hindrances to the ecosystem, particularly development of tourism sector.

Governor Oyetola who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Wole Oyebamiji said the government would always provide enabling environment to encourage investment in tourism.

He added that tourism is an avenue to generate employment, therefore efforts must be made to promote culture that make up the Yoruba history and to discourage ignorance as well as misunderstanding around it.

The supervisor, Osun State ministry of culture and tourism, Hon. Olalekan Badmus said tourism nosedived almost into oblivion in 2020 as a result of covid-19 pandemic, hence organising event such as the World Tourism Day is imperative to revive and strengthen the sector.

Badmus advocated a strong synergy among stakeholders including, hoteliers, transporters, monarchs and the government to make tourism a key driver of the economy.

He said “COVID-19 pandemic had a negative effect on the progress of tourism in the state. Hence, several festivals are held to create awareness, promote culture, tradition and give in-depth meaning of history to aid the progress of tourism across the state.”