Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has stressed his commitment towards making life more meaningful to people in a bid to making tourism a money spinning venture and eco-tourism accessible to tourists all over the world, with a view to boosting the economy of the host community in particular and the State in general.Â
Represented by the Special Adviser on Culture and Tourism, Mrs Taiwo Oluga, Aregbesola stated this during the flag off ceremony for the construction of 1.4km access road to Olumirin Water Falls, Erin-Ijesha being sponsored by the state government, with the implementation to be carried out by Osun Rural Access and Mobility Project (Osun RAMP).
A statement by the Osun RAMP Development Communication Specialist, James Adedokun said the governor identified provision of access road as a major impetus for tourism development, saying when the road is completed, unimaginable transformation would come to Erin-Ijesa and its environment in terms of socio-economic and cultural-tourism activities.
The governor, in the statement said, his administration has eased the task of tourists at Olumirin Water Falls by constructing the Pedestrian bridge to facilitate easy movement of visitors, researchers and holiday makers as well as tourists who might be willing to visit the Water falls.
He maintained that this is happening at a time when MKO Abiola International Airport Ido-Osun was being put into effectiveness thereby making arrival of tourists to Olumirin Water Falls from around the world an easy one.
Also speaking, the Chairman Osun State House of Assembly House Committee on Home Affairs, Tourism and Culture, Honourable Olasunkanmi Akinola; Chairman House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Honourable Kamil Oyedele and Honourable Israel Aloba appreciated the kind gesture and appeal for continued support of Aregbesola’s administration.
Earlier in his welcome address, Chairman Osun Tourism Board and Authority, Engr Abimbola Daniyan lauded the Aregbesola administration for his commitment to tourism development in the state.
In his brief on the project, the Project Coordinator, Osun RAMP, Engr Adelere Oriolowo said the intervention of RAMP in the construction/rehabilitation of rural roads, river crossings as well as Community-based Road Maintenance has been making life more meaningful to rural dwellers and has imparted positively in the life of the citizenry.
He said these have been made possible through the commitment of the Aregbesola administration, assuring that the road would be completed by January, 2018.
Oriolowo then enjoined all stakeholders to join hands with Osun RAMP in ensuring the timely completion of the work.
In his address, the Royal host, Oba (Dr) Engr Isaac Adeyeba Ayeni, the Elerin of Erin -Ijesa commended the commitment of the government towards making Olumirin Waterfalls a desirable place for every tourist, just as he appealed to the government to provide security post and health centre at the site for the safety of visiting tourists.