Niyi Akande, Osogbo.
The federal government has been called upon to expedite action on its promise to identify and promote 10 socio-cultural events in each state of the federation, as a means of increasing Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and also attract foreign investors.
Akirun of Ikirun, Oba Rauf Olawale Adedeji II made the call in his address at this year’s edition of Molepe Festival – an annual sociocultural event that brings together sons and daughters of the ancient town irrespective of their religious background.
It would be recalled that the Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, had since the inception of the Buhari administration, disclosed the intention of the federal government to take over 10 socio-cultural events in each of the 36 states of the country.
Stressing the need for government at all levels to package, promote and export traditional African culture to the global community, Oba Adedeji, maintained that if well managed, tourism potentials laying unattended to across the country could provide alternative sources of income to government.
He said: “we are abundantly blessed but we seem not to know how to manage the blessings. There are many tourism potentials around that we have not done enough to make very attractive, especially to the members of the global community, who want to know more about us in Africa.”
Going down the memory lane, the Giwa Kila of Ikirun, who is the Chief Organizer of Molepe Festival, High Chief Rasheed Ademola Oyedeji, recalled the event that led to the establishment of the annual event of love, unity and stability.
A journalist cum musician based in Osogbo, Alhaji Lateef Akannni Agboola and his Meaningful band added colour to this year’s Molepe festival, attended by the Iragbiji of Iragbiji, Olororuwo of Ororuwo, to mention but few.
