THE Oyo State Commissioner of Culture and Tourism, Princess Adetutu Akhigbe-Adeyemi, has reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to promoting the rich culture of the people of Oyo State to boost tourism activities in the state.
Akhigbe-Adeyemi, who was speaking at the Oyo State day at the just concluded maiden edition of the World Sango Festival, in Oyo Town recently, said the norm and value standard of the people’s culture radiated in their culture.
“The Oyo State government through the Ministry of Culture and Tourism would continue to transform and re-brand the festival, by activating different potentials that will shore up the dynamics of culture, which is the pivot of the Yoruba civilisation,” she said.
According to Akhigbe-Adeyemi, “the importance of culture as a major player in the socio-political and economic development of any nation cannot be overemphasised.
“The culture of any given society adds positive values to the melting table of emerging global economy.
“Since tourism thrives on the sampling of exotic varieties, the culture manifestation with which the first World Sango Festival offered would make Oyo state a tourist haven.”
The commissioner, who eulogised the impeccable milestone of Sango as a heroic king and warrior, who was later became a deity (god of thunder), said his supremacy in the history and culture of the Yoruba race was still relevant.
“Sango, no doubt, was a principal factor in the emancipation of the Oyo Empire and he reigned and ruled Oyo Empire as a king and the third Alaafin.
“Sango was a well-known Yoruba deity of thunder who made a great and unequalled impact in the lives of the people.
“The mystery behind his life and extra-ordinary powers he possessed and demonstrated when living and in death was too remarkable for the people of Yoruba to ignore.
“Staging a festival in honour of our heroes past and the world acclaimed god of thunder would go a long way in not only serving as a unifying factor of Yoruba descent globally, but also affording the state the opportunity to have a major festival for enlistment as a cultural heritage by United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).”
Akhigbe-Adeyemi reaffirmed Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s practical commitment and readiness to passionately showcase the inherent cultural and tourism potentials of the state to the world vis-a-vis boosting the economy of not only the immediate environment but also of the state through different revenue generating tourist activities.
Akhigbe-Adeyemi, who commended the state Council of Art and Culture that entertained visitors at the venue of the festival with Sango, Osun, Oya dance and an epic drama, thanked the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamide Adeyemi III, for being the custodian and ambassador of the festival and Yoruba race.
“Indeed, you have demonstrated your role as the custodian of Yoruba culture and heritage.
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