Adeleke Unveils Plan For Osun Creative Industry

Barely 24 hours after hosting 2023 BON Awards, Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has unveiled his administration’s plan for the creative industry inclusive of entertainment, culture and tourism.

A release by the spokesperson to the governor, Olawale Rasheed on Sunday, noted Adeleke opened up his on agenda for the sector while hosting top stars in the Nollywood industry at his country home, Ede, Osun State.

According to the statement, some of the penned agenda for the creative sector included creation of entertainment village in the three senatorial districts, infrastructural upgrade of tourist sites, hosting of several global standard events, logistics support for Osun as a film locations, cluster industry for craft sub-sector among others.

The governor, who described Nollywood as the uncelebrated booster of the national economy, assured of his administration’s preparedness to collaborate with the iconic platforms and make Osun as a global tourist destination.

Harping on infrastructural upgrade done since his assumption of office, Adeleke said they are meant to attract investors and the creative industry people to the state saying “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.

Speaking further, the governor disclosed his intention to take advantage of the state’s global music stars such Davido and Bred to host global concerts and push towards an annual global Yoruba Heritage week to draw thousands of tourists from South America, Europe and North America.

“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 center of the creative industry. As the custodian of Yoruba 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”, he said.

Earlier, the Founder of BON Awards, Seun Oloketuyi who led the Nollywood team to the Governor commended him for hosting the 2023 BON Awards.