Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Afolabi Olaoye, has inaugurated a 15-man committee to organise a befiting carnival to showcase the culture and tradition of Ogbomosoland.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the maiden edition of the carnival, aimed at promoting domestic tourism and attracting tourists to the ancient city, is scheduled for December.
The traditional ruler, while inaugurating the committee at his palace on Sunday, named Prince Williams Adeleye, a former Special Assistant to the President on Media, as its Chairman.
He urged the committee to plan and execute comprehensive activities that would contribute to the socio-economic development, promote cultural enrichment and attract local and foreign tourists to the town.
According to him, the carnival is part of his 25-year development plan to transform Ogbomosoland into a model city.
NAN reports that members of the committee include: Mr Segun Odebunmi, Mr Akinwole Akinwale, Bisi Michael, Tunde Ige, Samuel Bolanta, Mrs Janet Akintoyinba and Mrs Victoria Olojede.
Others are: Prince Dotun Oyelade, Oyo state Commissioner for Information, Olori Nike Olugbodi, Mr Bisi Micheal, Mr Kareem Adebayo and Mrs Fisayo Alabi.
In his remarks, the committee chairman noted that Ogbomosoland is endowed with unique and rich cultural heritage that, if fully harnessed, has the potential to transform the socio-economic landscape of the town.
“There is virtually no family compound in Ogbomosoland, from my little research, that has no unique tradition, be it egungun (masquerade), deity, ijala, oro, etc.
“Even Soun’s palace is a repository of a tourist site.
“In the creative industry, Ogbomoso men and women, old and young, are making their marks, and doing great in the money spinning industry.
“Talk of Baba Lere Paimo (Ogbori Elemoso), Kolawole Ajeyemi, Kunle Afolabi, 9ice, Laolu Gbenjo, Dunsin Oyekan, to mention a few; they are all notable faces in the Nigerian creative industry.
“Our food: amala and gbegiri, eko yangan (pap), bean snacks (akara Ogbomoso) as well as our unique agricultural products (mangoro ogbomoso, cassava and cashew) are much sort after by people from other towns and cities across the country and even beyond,” he said.
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Adeleye, therefore, said organising such a carnival had the potential of attracting local and foreign investors to tap into the inherent agricultural value chain, thereby creating jobs and stimulating increased economic activities in the town.
He assured Oba Olaoye of the committee’s commitment to work assiduously for the success of the first Ogbomoso culture and tourism festival.
“We shall give our all, leveraging our expertise, contacts with relevant culture and tourism institutions in Nigeria, the private sector and deploying available resources to make the event memorable,” he said. (NAN)
