Honestly, Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Oyo State has given so much visibility to the ministry he is oversees and not that alone, he has brought up some novel programs and activities to uplift the face of the ministry and the state in the global community.
While I do not only think he, Wasiu Olatunbosun, should be commended, I further think he should be given some flowers he deserves as the innovative commissioner under Gov. Seyi Makinde.
Truthfully, we are in the era of overreaching focus on the CENTRE, while we ignore the sub-nationals that are closer and more important to us.
And in all honesty, I hardly see or read comments on what our various commissioners of Agriculture in the southwestern states are doing to boost agriculture and also ensure food security in a space of few months, taking into consideration the high food prices inflation we have witnessed recently.
There are arable crops that could have been planted in January and by now be ready for harvesting in a matter of days. But all attention is on Tinubu and his ministers as if they are the ones who will come and do everything for us at the state level.
With that, when a Commissioner like Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun is doing so much in the Culture and Tourism Ministry of OYO State at sub-national level, and we seem not to see it, it may be so much discouraging to him and his efforts, and barred him in pursuing further.
Personally it gladdened my heart to see that a part of the OYO Stare Cultural CENTRE was used for the celebration of world theater day recently.
Our prestigious CULTURAL CENTER has almost being abandoned, even though it may take billions of Naira to put it back to shape but the truth is that the place had been outrightly abandoned for a very long time, and kudos to the commissioner for reigniting the usefulness of the historical building at the hill of Mokola.
Again, I can proudly see that the Commissioner, Wasiu Olatunbosun, is trying to see how to use what is available to do the needful, May God continue to help him. Still, he needs our encouragement and commendations, collectively.
Also, on each occasion of opening or commissioning of any projects especially roads, the OYO State Cultural Troupe is always on ground to peculiarly entertain guests. Their performances have been superb on the various occasions I have witnessed.
I am equally aware that this cultural group has been very actively participating in the installation and coronation of kings across the state.
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This is their terrain and they are maximizing the opportunities of those ceremonies to showcase themselves.
I have also read about aqua-tourism, not sure if we know that we can actually go out on boat expeditions in OYO State now. A private company is doing that, courtesy of the ministry, with a lot of safety measures. We don’t have to visit Lagos lagoon for that experience, we can make it happen here in Oyo state, and be proud of it.
Barring insecurity, we now have options of so many tourist destinations that are active and alive in OYO State. I have seen the suspended lake and I think the ministry is looking for ways of modernizing the lake
There are also ongoing collaborations between the State ministry of culture and Lead City University for several cultural programs that I have read about. The Isese people and the traditional religion have also come to limelight too.
This was the original religion of our forefathers until we all adopted foreign religions. And joyfully, the Honorable Commissioner, Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun had always informed us of this on different platforms.
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While I am conclusively commending Hon. (Dr.) Wasiu Olatunbosun, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in OYO State, I will like to advice further that he should use his influence to engage the state lawmakers to back most of the cultural and tourism programs with laws, so they will not become ‘his’ programs alone, and therefore abandoned when he leaves office or his party leaves power.
Now that the state laws have recognized Isese Day in OYO State it has become an indelible policy of the state.
By; Rotarian (Dr.) Olusoji Ijidale
