Oyo state government under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde has expressed its readiness to expand the state’s economy through tourism.
The governor noted that Igbo Ora festival of twins and multiple births will be promoted to gain world heritage site.
Makinde made these assertions on Saturday while speaking at the annual world twins festival themed; “Twinning for Love, Unity and National Economic Reorientation,” held at the Methodist Grammar School, Igbo Ora.
The event was organised by the Igbo Ora Community and Ibarapa Central Local Government in conjunction with Oyo State Government and the Twins World Creation Intercontinental.
The governor while speaking, said that his government would continue to promote the festival because of its uniqueness and importance to Ibarapaland and Oyo State in general.
Makinde, who was represented by his deputy, Barrister Bayo Lawal, pledged his government’s continuous support for the festival to attract more investors, stating that this would be achieved through improvement of facilities and creation of an enabling environment needed for tourism to thrive in the state.
Makinde said: “What we are doing today is something that is worth celebrating. You can see that we have a lot of people who came here from far and wide for this event”.
The Olu of Igbo Ora, Oba Jimoh Titiloye, appreciated Makinde for promoting the twins festival as a platform for tourism and an avenue for the expansion of the state’s economy.
Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun, said the festival is unique, as it has incorporated twins from all the geopolitical zones in the state, with the target of entering the Guinness Book of World Records and also being enlisted by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage.
He added that the festival has promoted culture and tourism in the state, urging residents of Ibarapaland to embrace the festival and accommodate all the states in Nigeria.
Twins festival consultants and initiators, Ambassadors Taiwo and Kehinde Oguntoye, also appreciated Makinde for being a lover and promoter of creative and innovative cultural adventures and tourism.
According to the Ibadan born Oguntoye Twins, Empherical facts point to Oyo State as the World Centre of Multiple births, three (3) of the major specific indices make Oyo State the World Centre of Twins namely; Oyo Town (Ejire Ara Asokun), Oko Town (Where are first triplets where born) and Igbo-ora (The Land of Twins).
