Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Thursday, inaugurated committees on the 25-year Tourism Masterplan and the 2026 International Tourism Summit.
Makinde inaugurated the nine-member committee of the 25-year Tourism Masterplan and the eight-member organising committee for the 2026 International Tourism Summit at the Executive Council Chamber, Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
The governor, in a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media, Sulaimon Olarenwaju, in Ibadan, noted that the state has valuable tourism assets and sites to attract tourists and investors from different parts of the world.
Makinde noted that his administration would continue to build systems and structures that will encourage people to invest in the state, adding that tourism grows where there is structure, hospitality, clarity of purpose and continuity.
The 25-Year Tourism Masterplan Committee comprises the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Wasiu Olatunbosun; Director-General, state Investment Public Private Partnership Agency, Tilewa Folami; Chief Experience Officer, Slvr WIf Digitale Limited, Communication Consultants to the State Government, Abigail Anaba; Prof. G.A. Lameed of the Department of Wildlife Management and Ecotourism, University of Ibadan; and Vice-President, Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria, South-West Zone, Ambassador Gbenga Dauud Sunmonu.
Others are the Tourism Programme Coordinator, Centre for Sustainable Development, University of Ibadan, Dr. Olumuyiwa Akande; Forest Centre Manager (IITA), Dr. Awoyemi Adewale; CEO, The JAGS Hotel, Ibadan, Engr. Kayode Adegbulugbe and the Director of Tourism, Ministry of Culture & Tourism, Mrs. Agboola Adejoke.
The organising committee of the International Tourism Summit has as members the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Wasiu Olatunbosun; Commissioner for Finance, Akinola Ojo; Director General, state Agribusiness Development Agency, Debo Akande; Director-General, state Mobilisation Agency for Socio-Economic Development, Morounkola Thomas; Director-General, state Investment Public Private Partnership Agency, Tilewa Folami; Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Sulaimon Olanrewaju; Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Duties, Lolade Ajibola; and the Chief Experience Officer, Slvr WIf Digitale Limited, Communication Consultants to the State Government, Ms. Abigail Anaba.
Makinde noted that the state has grown and must continue to build and strengthen communities, improve hospitality standards and create an enabling environment that attracts investors and visitors from across the world for meaningful experiences.
He charged the members of the tourism masterplan committee to think beyond the present generation and ensure that the state has a roadmap that will guide decisions and shape investment for subsequent administrations, stressing that tourism development requires collaboration and alignment among policies, capital, commitment and execution.
The governor said, “Today is about setting in motion a system that will shape how Oyo State competes, attracts investments and creates opportunities over the next 25 years. It is not just about what we do in the immediate setting, it is how we put in systems that can give confidence around the world. When we decided to expand our airport to an international standard and have international flights coming direct, it was because we dared to be different.
“We want a situation where even if you can’t come to Nigeria, Oyo State will be on the tourism map and they can say, ‘Yes, I want to visit so, so, so, and so places in the state, and we can fly directly to the state capital. So, what this committee is supposed to do is to show us the direction where our state can compete, attract investments, and create opportunities over the next 25 years.
“Yes, we have assets that other people around the world will want to come and see. From Oke Iya-Mapo in Igbeti to Igbo Ora to the Ikere Gorge Dam. Yes, we do have assets that people may want to come and see. But what we have to do is to build a system that gives confidence to people; that will allow them to pack their bags and say, we want to go to Oyo State, even without us knowing anybody there, because we will be looked after in that place.”
He added, “The 25-year tourism masterplan is for us to think beyond this generation and ensure that Oyo state has a roadmap for that sector. The master plan will guide decisions, shape investments not only for this administration, but for several other administrations.
“Tourism development cannot be driven by the government alone. It requires collaboration with the private sector and relevant stakeholders. So, there has to be alignment between policy, capital and execution. This is serious work and it will require active participation.