Ekiti government plans to make state entertainment, tourism hub

Seeks investments in sector
The Ekiti State Government at the weekend said it had put necessary machinery in place to make the state the nation’s entertainment and tourism hub in the country.

It also urged investors across the world in entertainment and tourism industry to urgently take advantage of the state’s unique tourism potentials to invest and make huge money.

Speaking after a tour of the state’s tourism facilities with newsmen on Saturday,

The state’s Commissioner for Arts, Tourism and Culture, Prof. Rasaki Ojo Bakare, who disclosed this after a tour of the state’s tourism facilities with newsmen, said that Ekiti boasts of numerous natural endowments that are tourism wonders.

“The essence of our tour of tourism sites in the state is to showcase to the world our potentials for tourism business. You have seen the depth of what we have. What is left is for investors to come in and do business with the state.

“It is good to build filling stations and hotels, but tourism sites when invested in, can give you what petrol stations and running a hotel cannot give you.

“We are calling on domestic and foreign investors to come to Ekiti State and do tourism business with us. The message is simple, if your ambition is to make money, come to Ekiti State. We have a lot for you to key into and make money. “

According to Bakare, some of the state’s tourism sites, such as the Arinta Waterfall, the Ero Dam, Fajuyi Amusement Park, the Ikogosi Warm Spring and the Civic Centre edifice, which contains the cinemas, art theatre, gallery and other facilities cannot be found elsewhere in the country.

“I don’t know where something like our civic centre is in Nigeria except National Theatre in Lagos. In the next couple of months, Ekiti State will be the hub of entertainment.”

Bakare, who was Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Artistic Director, Abuja Carnival, said that the state had already enacted friendly legislation and put relevant infrastructure in place to boost tourism and entertainment businesses.

“Another thing on the tourism corridor is the cenotaph of the late Joseph Ayodele Babalola, the first General Evangelist of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), for religious tourism,” the commissioner further said.