Osun State Government has announced plans to launch a tourism masterplan known as ‘Culture and Tourism for Sustainable Economy’ (CUTOSEC)on November 19, 2020 in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, in collaborationwith Sterling Bank Plc, Goge Africa, African Union ECOSSOC and LaCampagne Tropicana. Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State, who disclosed this recentlyin a statement in Osogbo, said the event would kick-start the aggressiveimplementation of plans that would make Osun Sterling Tourism Vision(OSTOV) 30-30 a reality. According to the governor, OSTOV 30-30 would involve the developmentof 30 projects that include development of sites and programmes acrossthe state into premium tourist destinations by 2030. This will make Osunthe foremost tourism hub in the country while creating a future of sharedprosperity for citizens of the state.He said Osun State has abundant but untapped resources which the stategovernment plans to develop in partnership with players from the privatesector. “We have decided to partner with Sterling Bank Plc and otherplayers in the tourism sector to activate the potential of the state toattract tourists from within and outside Nigeria.“We are home to several important landmarks that form part of theheritage of the Yoruba people and we are also blessed with many naturalendowments that are capable of attracting more than 7ve million touristsannually. It is our hope that Nigerians and foreigners alike would come on
pilgrimage to the state from 2021 to visit the various tourist sites that wehave earmarked for development in our master plan,” the governor said.He added that the implementation of the master plan will help to developcritical infrastructure, boost the state government’s revenue, createthousands of jobs, and nurture a sense of cultural exchange betweenforeigners and citizens of the state. He said the OSTOV 30-30 would alsoempower youths and women and raise household incomes across allurban, peri-urban, and rural communities in the state.The state government will acquire the land for the projects, provide basicinfrastructure and ensure security while partners to the project wouldprovide funding, 7nancial advisory services, and marketing, amongothers.Ademola Adeyemi, Regional Business Executive, South West, SterlingBank Plc, said the bank is excited to be part of OSTOV 30-30 because theproject aligns with its purpose of enriching lives through 7nancialintermediation in critical areas that create jobs, enable growth andsustains wellbeing in rural and urban areas. According to Ademola, collaboration with the Osun State Government is acarefully thought out move which will take advantage of the immensenatural and cultural endowments of the state to stimulate economicgrowth and development through ecotourism.Osun State is home to Ile-Ife, the cradle of the Yoruba race. It has hugetourism potential which is about to be harnessed for the socio-economicbene7t of its people
No comments:
Post a Comment