Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, has declared that the progressive investment being made by Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s government in Creative economy and Tourism stemmed from his firm belief that the sectors can sustain the state’s economy.
Rather than relying solely on proceeds of oil accruing to Ekiti from the federation account to develop the state, Mrs Afuye, posited that Governor Oyebanji, was investing heavily in other viable alternative sectors, so that Ekiti can shed the toga of full reliance on revenue from the national level for survival.
Mrs Afuye said these in Ijero Ekiti, headquarters of Ijero Local Government Area, during the 2024 Edition of ‘Odun Ita Ajero’, held in the town, on Thursday, in a statement issued by her Special Assistant on Media, Victor Ogunje.
Addressing the mammoth crowd of indigenes and visitors at the cultural fiesta, Mrs Afuye, commended the Ajero of Ijero Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adebayo Adewole, for conceptualising the festival to adore Ijero’s rich culture and solidify the cord of unity among its indigenes.
On efforts being intensified by Governor Oyebanji to develop the creative and hospitality sectors, the Deputy Governor, said this manifested in the remarkable facelift being noticed at Ikogosi Resort Centre, thereby shoring up the state’s revenue profile.
The Deputy Governor also lauded Governor Oyebanji over appreciable investment in the Ekiti State Festival of Arts and Culture (EKIFEST), saying the government was ready to partner some communities to upgrade their local festivals to national status.
“As I congratulate you on this unification ceremony, let me bring to your notice that what you are doing today is in tandem with the belief and political philosophy of our Omoluabi Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, who had demonstrated in actions and deeds that all the towns in Ekiti must unite across political and religious divides to develop the state.
“Ekiti is sufficiently rich in both human and material resources and these must be skillfully and successfully harnessed to develop the State.
“The Ikogosi Resort Centre and Arinta Waterfall are now economically viable and making revenues to the state’s coffers. The government has been making commensurate efforts to make the Annual EKIFEST more grandiose to gain traction and national recognition.
“The just concluded 2024 Edition of EKIFEST had been adjudged to be colourful all over the globe. In actual fact, it has launched Ekiti on the global map as an hospitable and artistically ingenious group of people”.
She considered the annual ceremony as a platform to celebrate the historical greatness of Ijero people, saying it has been a policy of the Oyebanji-led administration to protect Ekiti culture and make it a thing of economic benefit to the populace.
“Like Ojude Oba in Ijebu Ode, Udiroko in Ado Ekiti, Eyo festival in Lagos, Governor Oyebanji is ready to partner our towns to develop their cultural and creative endowments to gain national reckoning.
“In this modern time, these potentials are sufficient enough to power the economy, even better than oil that we are solely dependent”.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, who traced the historical connection of Ijero Kingdom to Ife, the cradle of Yoruba race, commended Governor Oyebanji for his unshaken interest in culture and making efforts to upgrade and preserve it by his friendly policies.
The monarch charged all the towns in Yoruba race to be proud of their culture and work hard to make economic benefit out of it as obtainable in some climes.
“Ijero Kingdom occupies a priceless position in the history of Yoruba race, so I am proud of what Ajero is doing here today. We need unity in Yoruba land and Nigeria and this is a signal that we can use our culture to unite our people”.
The Ajero of Ajero Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adebayo Adewole, saluted the Oyebanji’s administration for displaying boundless passion to creative economy and stepping up efforts to preserve the arts and cultural endowments of Ekiti towns.
The monarch said the ‘Odun Ita Ajero’ was specially conceived to bring all the Ijero indigenes, both at home and in the diaspora together, unify and commit them to make substantial contributions to the progress of the community.