By; ISHOLA O. EMMANUEL, Osogbo.
The Federal Government of Nigeria on Friday called for the establishment of compatible activities centres at the Osun-Osogbo groove to create employment and promote tourism.
Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture made this call while delivering a speech at the grand finale of this year Osun-Osogbo festival in Osogbo.
The Minister who was represented by Dr Usman Abdalla, Director General, National Commission for Museum and Monuments said creating the centres would assist in poverty alleviation as encouraged by the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.
“There is a need to establish compatible activities at the buffer zone of the Osun groove where tie and dye, bead making, blacksmith, sales of cuisine and others that Osogbo is known for can be made.
“These activities will be geared towards poverty alleviation and it would also be in line with the Federal Government’s commitment in diversifying the economy.
“This in turn will generate employment for the teeming youths in the area of tourism promotion and for sustainable heritage management.” he said
The Minister said the FG was committed to continued preservation and sustenance of the Osun-Osogbo cultural heritage and therefore called for cooperation of all stakeholders and the world to join in the development and growth of the groove.
The State Governor of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola, represented by Mr Sikiru Ayedun, immediate past Commissioner for Home Affairs and Tourism, in his own address, said it was high time the people of the state go back to the craft they are known for.
He said, indigenes of the state, especially natives of Osogbo, are well known for tie and dye trade, but it was disheartening that they are now abandoned.
He then called on the youths to embrace the trade once again, saying it would help revive the craft/trade as well as preserving their heritage, whereby also developing them and also boosting the economy of the state.
In his remark, the Ataoja of Osogboland, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, Larooye II, who was full of gratitude, thanked the Federal, State and Local Government for the support given to the festival this year and previous years.
He equally prayed for the success of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, praying that God should help guide him to move the country forward, and to be able to revive and develop the economy of the country.
