The Ogun State Government and the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the execution of Renewed Hope Cultural and Creative projects in the state.
The framework of the MoU includes the establishment of a Renewed Hope Cultural Village, preservation and reservation of tourist sites, capacity building, and economic empowerment, among others.
Governor Dapo Abiodun signed on behalf of the state, while the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, signed on behalf of the Federal Government.
Abiodun, while speaking on the occasion, described tourism as a money spinner if properly harnessed, saying that the state would collaborate with the Federal Government to strengthen tourism and culture, as it provides employment opportunities, expands economic activities, and unites the people.
He said: “Tourism provides employment opportunities by keeping people busy. Culture, on the other hand, unites the people. Therefore, there is a need for us to focus on it.
“Our people are endowed with creativity, but do not have the platform to showcase their talents. Presenting our culture to the youths has attracted their attention, and they have started connecting back to their roots.”
He, therefore, said that the state parades some of the best festivals in the country, which include Orona Day, Lisabi Day, Remo Day, and the famous Ojude Oba Festival, noting that tourist sites like Olumo Rock, and a host of others, are veritable sites that could appeal to tourists.
His administration, Abiodun emphasised, had provided the needed infrastructure to support the tourism sector and is now focused on rehabilitating tourism sites to make them centres of attraction for tourists.
Musawa, in her remark, said her visit was to kick-start President Tinubu’s directive to collaborate with state governments to strengthen and showcase the cultural uniqueness of each state with a view to exposing them to the outside world.
She said: “We know every single state has a unique peculiarity. So, what he (President) wanted us to do, in a way, is this handshake that will allow the states to drive the conversations, as every state knows what is within it.
“When we do the handshake and MoU, the states will populate the MoU with their unique requests and look at how we can build on the heritage sites, on the monuments, and expand the creative industry to domesticate tourism and boost domestic tourism.
“The Federal Government is offering this handshake, partnership, and collaboration in this Renewed Hope Cultural and Creative Project. That is the mission and vision of the President so that we can continue as a nation to change the narrative about Nigeria, reposition it to drive the narrative of who we are as a people through the power of our culture, talents, creativity, and beautiful landscape.”
Meanwhile, Abiodun and Musawa have commended Globacom, the organisers and main sponsor of the 2025 Ojude Oba festival held on Sunday in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, for making it a global tourist destination.
However, Globacom added excitement to the day as it gave out brand new cars to two winners – one an outstanding member of the Ijebu community and another who got lucky in the special 20th Glo sponsorship anniversary consumer promo organised exclusively for Ijebuland.
Opeoluwa Osisanwo, who won the outstanding leadership prize, had incidentally felt dizzy moments before his prize was announced, owing to days of exhaustion as a result of activities preceding the festival.
The second winner, Idowu Olabisi, a trader based in Ijebu-Igbo, could not believe her eyes when she got the keys to the sleek Suzuki Celerio car that had just become hers.
She said that Globacom indeed gave her a spectacular gift at Eid, as she had no inkling she would get such a car at this time. Aside from the cars, four tricycles (Keke) were also won by other subscribers from within and around Ijebu.
