Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has said that in line with his administration’s zeal to expand the state’s economy through tourism, the Igboora Festival of Twins and Multiple Births will be promoted to gain UNESCO World Heritage.
Makinde stated this, at the weekend, during the yearly World Twins Festival, themed” “Twinning for Love, Unity and National Economic Reorientation,” held at the Methodist Grammar School, Igbo-Ora.
The governor said that his government would continue to promote the festival because of its uniqueness and importance to Ibarapaland and Oyo State in general.
He added that his administration would also accelerate efforts on developing the necessary infrastructure to support the drive, stating that the government would double its efforts to ensure that the ongoing rehabilitation of Ido/Eruwa Road is completed.
Makinde, who was represented by his deputy, Bayo Lawal, pledged his government’s continuous support for the festival to attract more investors, stating that this would be achieved through the improvement of facilities and the creation of an enabling environment needed for tourism to thrive in the state.
The event was organised by the Igbo-Ora Community Foundation and Ibarapa Central Local Council, in conjunction with Oyo State Government and the Twins World Creation Intercontinental.
The governor, therefore, charged parents of twins and multiple births to guide and take care of them well towards attaining their goals in life, while he also encouraged the immediate community to embrace and celebrate the festival by creating a permanent venue that would serve as a monument for the important festival.
In his address, Chairman on the occasion and member representing Ibadan North-East/Ibadan South-East Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Abass Adigun, said: “The yearly festival does not only showcase the premium placed on culture and tradition by the Oyo State government but also shows the values and uniqueness of Igbo-Ora community in the state and all over the African continent.”
He lauded Makinde for his efforts in putting the festival on the global map, thereby attracting tourists and investors to develop the state’s economy.
Also, the Olu of Igbo-Ora, Oba JimohTitiloye, appreciated the governor for promoting the Twins Festival as a platform for tourism and an avenue for the expansion of the state’s economy.
Oyo State’s Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr WasiuOlatunbosun, said the festival is unique, as it has incorporated twins from all the geopolitical zones in the state, with the target of entering the Guinness Book of World Records and also being enlisted by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage.
Meanwhile, the Twins Festival Consultants, Taiwo and Kehinde Oguntoye, also appreciated Makinde for being a lover and promoter of creative and innovative cultural adventures and tourism.
