Osun Osogbo Festival: Adeleke Promises Adequate Security

Governor Ademola Adeleke’s led
government has promised to provide adequate security for the residents, potential participants, and visitors before, during and after the 2024 Osun Osogbo festival.

Speaking to journalists in Osogbo Osun state capital on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism. Hon. Abiodun Bankole-Ojo said the present administration is serious about securing the lives and properties of the people.

Bankole-Ojo described Osun Osogbo groove as one of the tourist centres that has the biggest natural forest with an expansion of land that has not been charged for long.

He stated that everything is set to take the festival to the next level by digitising it for promotion.

According to him, “Our government is working seriously on the security aspect, and there will be adequate security during Osun Osogbo festival this year because if there is no security, there wouldn’t be a festival. This year’s festival will be colourful and remarkable.

The commissioner highlighted the importance of private partnerships in cultural, heritage tourist centres to achieve the goal, stating that it would make the project more successful.

He further said that Governor Ademola Adeleke is trying all his possible best to provide enabling environment for tourist sites to boost state economy.

He said, “Our government has identified all our tourist centres, but we can only do it one after the other. We have about 60 tourist centres in Osun State but the major ones are 16.

“We have been able to activate some kinetic potential in our cultural heritage and tourist sites. Owala Dam is like an activitial creation dam for the people to relax in that it features canoeing and fishing. Sango Timi Ede in Ede has been prioritised and work is ongoing, Akunugba in Ila, and Ife we are working on them.

“Tourist and cultural centres are essentially local and mostly owned by the people we don’t do it only we collaborate with the people and work with them to ensure their involvement. Some are religious, and some are social and spiritual. It is that people believe it are doing it.

“But as government our own is to provide enable environment and security for our residents. Osun with the ongoing projects in the state in the next six months people will be amazing.