Awakan Promises Global Exposure For Egba Heritage Sites, Festivals
Alake Urges State Government To Repair Faulty Olumo Rock Lift
Egba Heritage Foundation Unveils Plan For 55 Historical Pillars, Open-Air Museum
Daud Olatunji
The Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority, Dr Ola Awakan, has pledged the agency’s support for the development of Ijemo Rock in Abeokuta, Ogun State, into an international tourist destination.
Awakan gave the assurance during an inspection of the Ijemo Rock project, where the Egba Heritage Foundation is planning to establish an open-air museum featuring about 55 historical pillars documenting the history, culture and heritage of the Egba people.
The proposed development is expected to showcase the historical significance of the rock and other heritage sites in Egbaland, while positioning Abeokuta as a major destination for cultural tourism.
The NTDA boss, who described himself as a son of the soil, said Nigeria had enormous tourism potential capable of generating substantial revenue, creating employment and diversifying the country’s economy beyond oil.
He said the agency would collaborate with traditional institutions, community stakeholders and relevant authorities to develop and promote tourism destinations across the country.
Speaking at the palace of the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, during a visit to the monarch, Awakan said Nigeria’s return to the World Travel Market in London was an indication of the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to promoting the country’s tourism industry internationally.
He disclosed that he had returned from the international tourism event shortly before proceeding to Abeokuta to engage with stakeholders on the development of the area’s tourism potential.
According to him, the NTDA is working on several initiatives, including a tourism-dedicated streaming platform to showcase Nigerian destinations, the rebranding of the country’s tour guide system and the introduction of a Tour Ride System to provide dedicated transportation for tourists.
Awakan said the agency was determined to change negative international perceptions about Nigeria through strategic storytelling and the promotion of the country’s cultural heritage.
He described tourism as a critical component of President Bola Tinubu’s economic diversification agenda, arguing that Nigeria could generate substantial wealth from its natural attractions, festivals, arts and cultural resources.
“All we need is intentionality. We do not have to spend billions of dollars refining oil, as we do in the oil sector, before we can strike gold in tourism and culture,” he said.
The NTDA director-general commended the Egba Heritage Foundation for identifying Ijemo Rock as another important attraction capable of complementing the popularity of Olumo Rock.
He said the agency would work with the foundation and traditional institutions to ensure that the historical accounts associated with the site were properly documented and presented to local and international visitors.
Awakan also stressed that tourism development must involve host communities and traditional institutions, noting that the sector was largely private-sector-driven but fundamentally community-based.
Earlier, the Alake urged the Ogun State Government to address the faulty lift at Olumo Rock, warning that the situation could undermine efforts to improve the tourist attraction.
The monarch recalled that although Olumo Rock had undergone renovation, one of its three lifts, particularly the one serving the highest floor, had remained non-functional.
He appealed to the state government to urgently repair the facility, noting that visitors, particularly elderly tourists, should not be forced to rely entirely on climbing the natural rock formations.
The monarch also highlighted the economic benefits of cultural festivals, citing the annual Lisabi Festival and the participation of members of the Oodua People’s Congress, who visit Olumo Rock during their celebrations.
He said the presence of thousands of visitors during such events boosted the businesses of food vendors and other traders around the tourist attraction.
The Alake identified the Adire textile industry and the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library as other major attractions that could strengthen Abeokuta’s position as a tourism destination.
He also expressed support for the Egba Heritage Foundation’s activities, recalling that he had provided the organisation with office accommodation at the former Veterinary Hall to demonstrate his confidence in its commitment to preserving Egba heritage.
The monarch, however, raised concerns about the proposed hotel development around the Centenary Hall area in Ake, stressing the need for adequate parking facilities to prevent inconvenience to residents.
The proposed hotel, according to information provided during the engagement, is a six-storey development planned beside Centenary Hall.
He warned that poor planning could result in visitors parking in front of residential buildings and generating avoidable complaints from residents.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Egba Heritage Foundation, Zent Showunmi, disclosed that the foundation had identified 16 rocks in Abeokuta and was working towards developing several historical locations beyond the popular Olumo Rock.
Showunmi said the foundation’s exploration had identified a network of heritage locations and routes connecting Olumo Rock to Laburo, Otini, Ijemo Rock, Pukuwala and Guleni.
He explained that the discovery informed the proposal to establish approximately 55 historical pillars on Ijemo Rock under a project to be known as the Egba Pillars of History.
According to him, the proposed facility would function as an open-air museum where visitors could learn about the history, traditions and evolution of the Egba people, from the period of the Lisabi uprising to the present day.
He said the foundation had received expressions of interest from about 10 Nigerians living in the United States who indicated their willingness to sponsor individual historical pillars.
Showunmi called on indigenes, residents and other stakeholders to support the initiative, insisting that the project was not exclusively for the foundation but a collective responsibility for the development of Egbaland.
He disclosed that the foundation had also explored international partnerships, including a previous proposal involving potential annual sponsorship of $2m from foreign partners interested in establishing a museum in Abeokuta.
Although the earlier opportunity did not materialise, he said another potential partnership had emerged with an investor in Abu Dhabi.
Showunmi added that a proposal for the project was already being processed for presentation to the prospective partner through the NTDA director-general.
He further disclosed that the foundation had secured the necessary authorisation from Egba stakeholders and the Alake to proceed with the heritage development.
The foundation chairman also advocated the development of the Abeokuta airport, arguing that improved air connectivity would support the anticipated increase in international visitors.
He said the foundation was prepared to explore a private-sector partnership with an airline to establish an operational hub at the airport, provided the necessary land and government approvals were made available.
Showunmi maintained that the development of Ijemo Rock and other heritage locations would create economic opportunities, promote cultural identity and attract visitors from different parts of the world.
He urged Egba sons and daughters at home and abroad to take ownership of the initiative by supporting the proposed historical pillars and other components of the project.
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