By Olufemi Timothy Ogunyejo
By the time the golden sun set over the ancient city of Ibadan on the final day of the International Tourism Summit Oyo 2025 (ITSOyoState2025), it was clear: a new dawn had broken over Oyo State. A dawn led by a visionary Governor, Engineer Abiodun Oluseyi Makinde, whose dream of transforming Oyo into a global tourism and investment hub is fast becoming reality.
Under Governor Makinde’s transformative leadership, Oyo State has become a tapestry where the threads of history, heritage, and hospitality are being rewoven into economic prosperity. Tourism, once overlooked, has been revived and repurposed, not just as a cultural preserve but as a magnet for foreign direct investment (FDI), job creation, and sustainable development.
The Governor’s foresight mirrors the economic wisdom of nations such as Spain, the UAE, Thailand, Kenya, and Greece, where tourism contributes significantly, sometimes as much as 20%, to national GDPs. With every curated tour and cultural showcase, Makinde’s administration is planting seeds of economic renaissance, nurturing them with vision, and watching them bloom across the land.
Every symphony needs a skilled conductor, and Oyo State’s cultural crescendo has one in Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun, the Honourable Commissioner for Culture and Tourism. Throughout the summit, he proved to be more than an administrator; he was a cultural ambassador, economic strategist, and an inspired host.
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From orchestrating deeply engaging experiences at heritage sites to briefing investors over breakfast, Dr. Olatunbosun’s attention to detail and cultural diplomacy stood out like the twin towers of the Bower’s Tower, unshakable and symbolic.
At the National Museum of Unity in Ibadan, what was expected to be a routine visit turned into a richly immersive encounter. Guests were greeted with pageantry, dressed in resplendent traditional attire, and offered local delicacies, garden eggs, kolanuts, bitter kola, palm wine, and spring water, all served with warmth and pride. The museum didn’t just tell the story of Nigeria’s unity; it brought it alive.
Held across three transformative days, ITSOyoState2025 welcomed hundreds of participants including: tourism stakeholders, foreign investors,cultural institutions, development partners, researchers and academics, media representatives and community leaders and youth advocates.
The turnout was nothing short of a cultural carnival, with dialogues, exhibitions, site tours, and business roundtables turning the summit into a melting pot of innovation and heritage. Foreign investors expressed admiration for Oyo’s investment-ready ecosystem, while local participants found new purpose in preserving and promoting their indigenous cultures.
The 3-day event took participants on a curated journey to Sogidi Lake in Aawe—a tranquil oasis where nature whispers, myths dance, and heritage breathes. Surrounded by serene greenery, the lake enchanted visitors with its allure. More than just a body of water, Sogidi is a symbol of Oyo’s untapped eco-tourism potential.
Dr. Olatunbosun, during a breakfast briefing session that described the site as “a poem in water, a story of time, and an invitation to invest.” The setting was not only a visual delight but also a strategic revelation, positioning Oyo as a destination where eco-tourism meets economic opportunity.
The summit reminded us that culture is not a cost, but capital. Every masquerade, monument, and marketplace is a potential goldmine. By embracing tourism, Oyo is taking a page from countries that have turned cultural identity into currency.
From the Maya temples of Mexico to the Bali beaches of Indonesia, from the souk markets of Morocco to the game reserves of South Africa, the world has shown that where there’s heritage, there’s hope,and profit.
Oyo is now writing its own chapter.
To realize the vision laid bare at ITSOyoState2025, every citizen must become a stakeholder. Let us be: custodians of our culture, ambassadors of our art, guardians of our green spaces, supporters of the state’s strategic direction.
Tourism is more than travel; it is an economic accelerator, a peace builder, a unifier. And Oyo’s time is now.
As the drums fade and the dancers rest their feet, one truth lingers in the air: Oyo is open for business, and culture is the invitation card.
Governor Makinde has provided the compass, Dr. Olatunbosun the roadmap. Now, it’s time for all of us, citizens, investors, artists, and allies, to walk the path together.
Let’s preserve the past, present it to the world, and profit from its promise.
Oyo is not just a state.
Oyo is a story.
And that story is just beginning.
