The Oyo State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to partnering with non-governmental organisations to promote the state’s rich cultural heritage on the global stage as a strategy to boost tourism and increase its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
The Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun, stated this while receiving representatives of Christ Foundation Logistics and Tours and Asa Heritage during a courtesy visit to his office.
Describing the initiative as a laudable one, Olatubosun said that despite the State’s limited resources,the Ministry remains committed to supporting genuine initiatives that will promote Oyo State’s cultural and tourism potentials.
ALSO READ: 2025 World Tourism Day: Olatubosun, Stakeholders Call For Sustainable Transformation
The Commissioner also called on the organisations to actively participate in the Ministry’s programmes, particularly the World Egungun Festival, which is aimed at showcasing the entertainment and tourism value of the festival to the international community.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Rotimi Babalola, commended the zeal and commitment of the two organisations towards preserving and promoting Yoruba cultural heritage, especially through their forthcoming programmes in September.
He noted that Yoruba culture and traditions are gradually disappearing from schools, stressing that parents and stakeholders must ensure they are preserved for future generations.
Mr. Babalola further stated that the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde strongly believes in Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) as a viable means of promoting culture and tourism while increasing the state’s Internally Generated Revenue.
He praised the organisations for embracing the PPP model and encouraged them to sustain their efforts in projecting Oyo State’s tourism assets.
Also speaking, the General Manager of the Oyo State Council for Arts and Culture, Mr. Kunle Agboola, acknowledged Asa Heritage’s recent representation of Oyo State at a cultural exhibition in Brazil. He assured the organisations of the Ministry’s readiness to create an enabling environment for collaboration and encouraged them to explore international grants and other opportunities that would further benefit the state.
Speaking on behalf of Christ Foundation Logistics and Tours, its founder, Mr. Gabriel Moses, said the organisation was seeking collaboration with the Ministry on the international cultural programmes.
According to him, the programmes will provide opportunities to showcase Oyo State’s tourism potential to a global audience, attract foreign investors, strengthen the state’s international identity and ultimately boost its revenue.
The Initiator of Asa Heritage, Dr. Oluwatoyin Sogbesan, explained that the organisation has been documenting Oyo State’s cultural and historical heritage with the aim of securing global recognition.
According to her, the project seeks to position Oyo State among the world’s recognised heritage destinations, including UNESCO.
She explained that the Ministry’s involvement would include providing personnel to showcase the State’s rich cultural heritage during international engagements.
Dr. Sogbesan added that Asa Heritage has, over the years, documented several aspects of Oyo State’s heritage and showcased them through exhibitions across the world. She said the visit was also to seek collaboration with the Government towards the organisation’s month-long international programme in Canada, tagged “AfroVision 2026,” scheduled for September.
According to her, activities lined up for the event include business networking sessions, exhibitions, music, funfair and other cultural showcases aimed at retelling the African story from an authentic African perspective.
At the end of the visit, the Commissioner presented copies of 2025 World Egungun Festival reports to the teams while Dr. Sogbesan also presented a copy of the documentation on Oyo State’s cultural heritage to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
