The Ibadan Properties Company Limited has sought the support of the Oyo State Government towards the renovation of the ancient Mapo Hall, to give it a face lift. The company solicited the state government’s support on Thursday while conducting Hon. Akeem Ige, Special Adviser to the Governor on Culture and Tourism, round the edifice. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Ibadan Properties Company Limited (IPCL) is jointly owned by the 11 local government areas in Ibadan.
NAN reports that Ige had visited the ancient hall as part of his on the spot assessment tour of monuments and tourist sites in the state. Hon. Kehinde Akande, the IPCL Board Chairman and Caretaker Chairman of Ibadan South-West Local Government, said the state government’s assistance was imperative considering the deplorable condition of the building. He stressed that the renovation of the edifice was beyond what the local governments could handle without the assistance of the state government.
“It is obvious that the owner local governments cannot handle its renovation alone and that is why we are soliciting the assistance of the state government. “The edifice was last renovated in 2007 with the support of the state government,” he said.
Akande commended Gov. Seyi Makinde for his determination to develop all facilities that were in deplorable condition. He said that the dream of the IPCL was to rehabilitate all properties under it and make them compete with other companies like the Oodua Group of Companies. Ige in his remarks, expressed displeasure over the dilapidated state of the monument, which he described as the pride of Ibadan people.
He said that Mapo Hall was built in 1929 was refurbished last in 2007, while he was board chairman of IPCL, stressing that majority of the facilities fixed therein were no longer functioning. Ige expressed joy that the governor had shown keen interest in bringing back the lost glory of major heritage sites already in comatose across the state.
