In his remark, Oyetola contended that Osun Osogbo festival, having been the most popular and recognised in Nigeria by UNESCO needed to be elevated to a world standard.
Oyetola made this known during the grand finale of the annual festival, which held in Osogbo, with traditional chiefs, worshippers, sons and daughters of Osogbo paying homage to the custodian of the festival, the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun at the Osun-Osogbo groove.
The governor in his remarks, said he was honoured to attend the festival for the first time, saying his administration would continue to support the festival for it’s sustainability and growth.
Represented by the Supervisor of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Dr Babawale Adebisi, he said the festival was important to his government and his administration intends to transform the annual event to a foreign exchange earner for the state.He stated that the state was equally seeking partnership with the Federal Government to optimally tap into the tourism benefits the festival provides.
He further maintained that “Osun Osogbo festival has blossomed into an international event witnessed by about a million tourist all over the world.
“The festival is abounded between Osun the river goddess and the people in need and the lesson in this festival is faithfulness which we need to imbibe for peace and development of the state”.
This festival is very important to the government and the people of Osun as it is our cultural heritage and remains the most popular and the most regonised by UNESCO. The government has done the renovation of the groove and we are constructing a car park to conform with the UNESCO standard.”
“We urged our indigenes in the diaspora to partner with the government to promote and project the festival for global recognition”, Oyetola concluded.
https://guardian.ng/news/oyetola-pledges-support-for-osun-osogbo-festival-development/
