The 2023 Iyake Festival Committee led by His Royal Highness, Alado of Ado Awaye, Oba (Reverend) Ademola Folakanmi Olugbile, Makuledoye II recently paid a courtesy visit to the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatubosun in his Office for a briefing on the preparation for this year’s Iyake International Festival coming up between November 14 and 16, 2023 at the foot of Ado Hills.
The Committee sought the State Government’s involvement, commitment and intending approval in making the Iyake Festival one of the State-recognised and adopted festivals, as stated in The Roadmap for Sustainable Development in Omituntun 2.0 Agenda. They praised the Oyo State Government for its initiatives underunder Omituntun 1.0.
His Royal Highness commended the Oyo State Government’s continued support and relentless efforts on prioritising tourism in the State. He solicited more of the government’s involvement through the Culture and Tourism Ministry and by extension, the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters.
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He further urged the Commissioner to continue at an accelerated pace in his new role as the pioneering Commissioner, Ministry of Culture Tourism in the State and actualise the promise of transforming the Ado-Awaye suspended lake to an international standard tourist site.
In his response, the Honourable Commissioner assured the visitors of His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde’s commitment towards the promotion of tourism for sustainable development in the Omituntun 2.0 agenda and that Iyake Suspended Lake’s development is top on the government’s priority list. He added that the Committee’s proposition would go through all the right channels and be attended to in due course.
Iyake Suspended Lake is the only natural suspended lake in the world and is housed in Ado Awaye town. Sitting at the top of a mountain called Ado Awaye, the lake never dries even in dry seasons, and the water level remains the same in rainy seasons, giving it a sacred, cultural and tourism significance.
