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.
