The Ogun State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Oluwasesan Fagbayi, has said that the abundant potential in culture and tourism is rich enough to revive the country’s struggling economy.
Fagbayi, in a statement on Wednesday, made this known while fielding questions from journalists at the just concluded Ekiti State Festival for Arts and Culture with the theme, ‘’Arts and Culture: A Tool for Shared Prosperity’’, at the Ekiti Parapo Pavalion, Ado Ekiti.
The commissioner said, “It is glaring now that our dependency on the oil and gas sector could no longer sustain the nation’s economic development.
“We have to start tapping into the goldmine in our arts, culture, and tourism to generate additional revenue that the government needs to cater to the people”.
Speaking on the presentations by the Ogun State Cultural Troupe at the event, Fagbayi said the ministry would not relent in sensitising people on the need to harness, promote and utilise various arts, culture, and tourism products, adding that several mechanisms had been put in place to encourage foreign and private partnership in the tourism sector.
“At this event, people wore different kinds of fake and adulterated Adire. They are not aware but we are. Ogun is the custodian of Adire. These days, people go to the market and buy cheaper fabrics, which are adulterated ones.
“We will continue to sensitise them to patronise the original Adire fabrics,” he explained.
The commissioner appreciated the unwavering support of Governor Dapo Abiodun in promoting and preserving the culture and traditions of the state.
He revealed that the proposed Gateway Festival would encompass the cultural activities of all the 20 local government areas, urging government at all levels and other stakeholders, to resuscitate cultural heritage and develop tourist sites to world standard.
