Prince Dapo Abiodun, the Governor of Ogun State has pledged that his government is going to transform Olumo Rock to the best tourism destination in the country, adding that it is time to shift focus to tourism as a deliberate policy to benefit from the potential inherent in that sector of the economy.
The Governor made this pledge while inspecting the Olumo Rock Tourist Centre in Abeokuta, emphasising its cultural and historical significance to Egbaland, Ogun with over 20,000 visitors in 2024.
“Now, the tables have finally turned to tourism, and we are going to be very deliberate about pushing the frontier in our tourist development. Tourism with the potential it offers is not only a source of income or revenue for any state or nation. We’ve seen nations whose only source of income is tourism. We’ve seen nations that have transitioned from being dependent on oil, and now 70 percent of their revenue comes from tourism”, he said.
The governor noted that Olumo Rock was the foremost tourist attraction site in the state, promising that it would receive the uplift it deserved to make it the best destination for visitors within and outside the country.
He said if the government was not intentional and deliberate about restoring, maintaining and protecting its tourist centres, the facilities would gradually begin to depreciate and erode. “I commend those maintaining this centre. It can receive better care, and from now on, it will get the best attention possible. “I have noted several necessary improvements and we will be implementing those changes promptly to elevate the site’s status and appeal,” the governor said.
