Osun Osogbo Festival : We Are Sustaining The Tempo Of Global Relevance -Oluga

By Ayobami Agboola

The Special Adviser to the Osun  State Governor on Tourism and Culture,  Mrs Taiwo Oluga has said that the government in the state is working assiduously to maintain the global relevance of Osun  Osogbo festival.

Oluga,  who was speaking on the efforts of the state government towards this year Osun Osogbo festival, which  its grand finale has been slated for today Friday, August 18 opined that every necessary arrangement has been putting in place since the inception of the current administration  in the state to protect and preserve the World Heritage Site, and the Osun festival, as leading cultural heritage.

According to her,  the efforts of successive administrations in the state in the quest of adding more values to the cultural event made the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural  Organization (UNESCO) to recognise the Osun  groove as World Heritage Site.

She  explained that Governor Rauf Aregbesola led administration has been so passionate in its resolve to develop tourist sites in the state, including the Osun groove.

She disclosed that the state has invested heavily  to revamp tourism, with the sole aim of making the sector  the mainstay of the state’s economy.

She said  “it is not in doubt that Osun Osogbo has been taken to the front stage as a leading cultural festival in the world.

“The emergence of Governor Aregbesola has not only redefined the tourism sector in the state, but also sustained the growing  popularity of Osun  Osogbo festival globally.

“As part of the state’s intervention towards socio-cultural renaissance, the state government of Osun has put in place the requisite infrastructure to develop tourism and make it a viable source of revenue generation”, she stressed.

Oluga, who assumed office in May, said her office has recorded huge successes in reviving the decadence in the sector.

She disclosed that an approval has been secured from the Governor to renovate and resuscitate some of the moribund tourist sites in the state.

“On assumption of office, works have commenced in earnest  to ensure that  all  tourist sites in the state come back to life.

“We have secured an approval from the state to reconstruct and renovate Olumirin-ErinIjesa waterfalls, Osun Osogbo grove, erection of golden gateway, among others.

“We have earlier expanded and renovated the pavilion at Osun Osogbo grove so as to pave way and accommodate more crowd”, she added.

‎While expressing optimism that this year festival will be the best of its kind,Oluga noted that efforts had been geared up towards ensuring a significant difference, as this according to her as reflected in the series of programmes taking place since the commencement of the two-week long festival.