25th December, 2023
Osun governor, Ademola Adeleke has revealed that he will take advantage of Nigerian global music stars such as Davido to host global concerts and push towards an annual global Yoruba Heritage festival that will draw thousands of tourists from South America, Europe and North America to the state.
Adeleke said this on Sunday while speaking on his expansive agenda for the creative sector as the governor of Osun State.
He spoke while hosting top stars of the Nollywood industry at his country home of Ede on Sunday.
He had hosted 2023 edition of BON Awards earlier.
Adeleke said his administration’s plan for the creative industry inclusive of entertainment, culture and tourism involved the hosting of several global standard events, the creation of an entertainment village in the three senatorial districts, infra upgrade of tourist sites, logistics support for Osun as a film location, cluster industry for craft sub-sector among others.
Adeleke said the plan also touches on the development of the hotel sector in terms of standardization and facilitation to secure and maintain high-quality service for global visitors and national visitors the state will be receiving starting next year.
He described Nollywood as the uncelebrated booster of the national economy, assuring that his administration is prepared to collaborate with the iconic platform to deepen Osun as a global tourist destination.
Governor Adeleke narrated that his focus on infra upgrade in the last one year was to attract investors and the creative industry people to Osun, adding that ” we are working to make the roads motorable, the health centers workable, the workers very happy, the water access very accessible, the school facilities very conducive and security truly water tight.
“The entertainment sector is a huge money spinner. In other developed countries, national earnings run into billions of dollars. In Africa, Nollywood is a household name.
“Osun as the cradle of the Yoruba nation must rise to serve as the centre of the creative industry. As the custodian of Yoruba’s major cultural assets, we must be the capital of the cultural creative industry. That is what my administration is committed to.
“We will support you as a very important economic driver. We will soon call for a further partnership meeting”, the Governor noted.
Speaking earlier, the Founder of BON Awards, Seun Oloketuyi who led the Nollywood team to the Governor commended the Governor for hosting the 2023 BON Awards, describing the Governor as a major of the entertainment industry.
“We appreciate your hosting us as well as granting new energy to the Awards by your active participation. We look forward to deeper collaboration “, Mr Oloketuyi noted.
In attendance at the event was the publisher of Ovation Magazine, Akinrogun Dele Momodu, Fred Amata, Adebayo salami, Keppy Ekpeyoung, Toyin Adegbola,Shushu Abubakar among others.