The Aare Ona-Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Ige Adams, has called on the federal and state governments in Nigeria to wake up to the realities of new revenue generation in foreign currencies by upgrading the existing tourist attraction centers.

With particular reference to the call for the diversification of the economy from oil and other solid minerals, Adams urged the governments to prioritise revitalising the tourism sector.

Adams made the call while speaking at the 2025 annual celebration of the Olumo Festival in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

Adams noted that tourism can attract foreign investors to change the narrative of the unemployment rate and create job opportunities for the teeming youths.

He cited instances of the United States of America and Thailand that have been raking in several millions of foreign countries to augment their revenue generation base.

“One of the problems we are having now is insecurity; if governments can provide the enabling environment through security and re-orientate our youths about various activities, Nigeria has very big potentials in tourism to create wealth,” he said.

“Thailand has 40 million tourists every year and statistics also showed that Britain is generating nothing less than 35 million tourists every year. Meanwhile, we have to understand that this is the period when people are moving from mineral resources to tourism for revenue generation.

“Tourism is a gold that you can’t earn in your eyes. You can mine gold and minerals and finish it, but tourism is a potential of the economy that you cannot finish. The way you organize and package it is the way you make more money because people will keep coming to that destination and you’ll be making foreign currency to the country.

Commenting on the value of cultural heritage, the Aare Ona-Kakanfo of Yorubaland declared that tradition and culture are an identity and values that no one should lose.

“When you lose your cultural values and identity, you have lost everything. Culture is good for cohesion and for progress, and thus is why governments must see wisdom in this,” he said.

“Economically, the Olumo festival which is one of the prominent festivals in Yorubaland, also contributes immensely to commerce and tourism valuation of Egbaland, Ogun State and Nigeria by extension.”

Adams urged all sons and daughters of Egbaland at home and in the diaspora, to sustain the Olumo festival, the legacy of the Lisabi, and what the Lisabi festival has come to represent.

Also speaking at the event, the Alake of Egba Land reminded the governor of Ogun State of the need to repair the infrastructure of the Olumo rock.

He stated that they could not climb to the top of the rock this year due to the condition of the lift, recalling that the governor had promised to fix it.