The Ogun State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Sesan Fagbayi, has described Nigeria’s tourism sector as a significant but underutilized resource that can drive economic diversification and growth.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum organized by the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria in Abeokuta, Fagbayi, represented by Mr. Michael Ogunbiyi from the ministry, emphasized the vast potential of tourism for job creation and the promotion of Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage on a global scale.
“Tourism alone can propel economic diversification when we consider its extensive impact across commerce, arts, crafts, and agriculture,” Fagbayi noted. “Our cultural, sports, and tourism assets are powerful tools for marketing our heritage. If we don’t showcase these treasures, how will Nigerians and the rest of the world discover what we have to offer?”
The Commissioner pointed out Ogun State’s numerous tourism assets, including Olumo Rock, the Bilikisu Sungbo Shrine, Sacred Heart Hospital—the first hospital in Nigeria—and notable figures such as Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka and the Anikulapo-Kuti family. “Tourism gives us the chance to highlight these pride points and share our heritage with the world,” he added.
Fagbayi commended the Federation for organizing the forum, calling it essential for engaging stakeholders and advancing the tourism sector.
In his keynote address, titled “Tourism and Culture: A Veritable Tool for Economic Growth and Industrial Revolution,” Dr. Wasiu Babalola urged local tourism professionals to take advantage of the state’s infrastructure developments to attract visitors. He pointed out that Ogun’s security improvements, enhanced road networks, and attractions like the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library position the state as a prime tourist destination.
“Ogun is relatively safe, with new roads leading to the capital,” Babalola remarked. “We have world-class attractions, so the question remains: what steps are professionals taking to draw tourists to these sites and leverage the government’s investments?”
Ibraheem Kukoyi, the state coordinator of the association, echoed the need for stronger partnerships among stakeholders to fully develop the tourism sector and unlock its economic potential.
As the tourism sector continues to be recognized as an invaluable asset, stakeholders are urged to collaborate and elevate Ogun State as a premier destination, benefiting both the local economy and cultural heritage.
