Segun Oni unveils tourism development agenda for Ekiti State - To generate N1bn yearly, create 5,000 jobs - One local government, one product
By Wale Ojo-Lanre
Segun Oni WHEN men of
ideas are out to make reasonable point, they shine like stars, which they are and turn stones to gold.
This axiom plays for Engineer Segun Oni, the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ekiti State who last week unveiled his tourism development agenda for the state.
In a rare display of brilliance and deep knowledge of tourism sector and its enormous economic generating capacity, Engineer Oni painted a picture that Ekiti will never be poor again in internally generated revenue if elected as the governor of the state.
Engineer Oni in his comment said he was always sad whenever he thinks about the wonderful natural tourism site in Ekiti State and the lack-lustre posture of the state past administrators to its development.
“Gentlemen of the press, as an Ekiti man, a home boy who has also travelled all over the world and who have seen what countries do with their tourism assets and coming to my home state seeing how authority allowed these assets to waste, begging for development saddens me”.
Engineer Oni said his feeling bad was borne out of genuine concern for the Ekiti people who could have benefitted from the development of these assets and even the assets would have shore up in value.
The PDP gubernatorial candidate who was the first Nigerian experts to be seconded to Kenya by Rank Xerox disclosed that his stay in the East African country afforded him to study the economic power of tourism.
“My sojourn in Kenya, as an expert of Rank Xerox, has enabled me to have an insight into how tourism assets can turn a poor country to a wealthy nation, loved and desired by all. Kenya is an example of a country which adequately utilized its tourism assets for the greatness of the country. And that’s exactly what I am going to do in Ekiti State.
Engineer Oni said his blue print on Ekiti tourism development agenda was cooked not only by him but with the contribution of local experts who know the local contents of Ekiti tourism.
He pointed out that with comprehensive enhancement of tourism assets in Ekiti, the sector would be yielding N1 billion yearly to the coffers of the state while it would create not less than five thousand jobs.
Engineer Oni disclosed that research conducted by his team has enabled them to identify one tourism product by each local government.
“Ensuring that our effort on tourism should be more meaningful, economically rewarding and sustainable, we are rooting its enhancement in the rural areas where our people will have the full impact of a visitor coming to see their product. This will also accelerate development of the rural areas where each of the product is located.
Engineer Oni said when tourism is rural based, the masses benefit and wealth is created, but when it is city based, “it only restricted the bulk of the largesse circulating within the few. Our tourism policy is geared to create wealth, generate jobs and empower the people at the grassroots.”
The PDP gubernatorial candidate also disclosed that Ikogosi Warm Spring, Ipole Iloro Water Fall, the Osun in Igede, the Ero Dam, Olosunta Rock, Ikere, the Effon Alaye-Oke Mesi Rock Ridge, would witness heavy development in the first six months of his tenure.
“With the collaboration and support of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) we are going to review the status of Ikogosi Warm Spring. That Warm Spring alone is enough to turn Ekiti to desired tourist destination. We are going to change the story of Ikogosi Warm Spring like the way Gov Donald Duke changed the story of Obudu Cattle Ranch. We have the same programme for the Ero Dam with its fascinating scenery. The Ipole Iloro Waterfall, apart from generating power from it, will attract tourists in drove that the villagers will be feeding fat on the patronage of the tourist. We know what to do. We have the plans. And by the time we develop these majors tourist sites and the One Local Government, One Product is on course, my people will be enjoying the dividend of tourism policy.
Engineer Oni said that tourism is private sector driven but his government would create and provide enabling environment for the private sector to blossom.
“We are forming a partnership with members of the public sector. By the time we are out with our tourism policy, Ekiti will witness the influx of tourism investors, tour operators and tourism practitioners. Tourism is a big business, we have the assets in Ekiti state and we shall no longer allow it to lay fallow or waste away but utilize it to create jobs, generate wealth and empower my people if voted as governor. This I promise to do and by the special grace of God, it will come to pass. Ekiti is not poor. We have all what it takes to be one of the richest states in Nigeria. And it shall be so”.
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