By Gbadamosi oladimeji
Professor Ojo Rasaq Bakare today advised the federal government to invest in tourism instead of investing substantial amount of money in the oil sector that will not sustain Nigeria for long,
Prof Bakare who disclosed this at the international culture and event centre in Akure ondo state lamented that;” the nation is suffering from collective ignorance by depending on oil sector alone, Gambia doesn’t have natural resources like Nigeria but they generate their income through tourism, and that is what the country is using to sustain itself up till ” he said
Bakare added that going to pilgrimage is tourism, we are helping other country to build their nation through tourism whereas our cultural heritage is dying unlike Isreal and Saudi Arabia. He however,noted that Osun state had taken a step by promoting the cultural heritage of the state and generating income from it.
Speaking on the theme ” forging a new economic rout for Ondo towards a sustainable future” A renown playwright Chief Ben Tomoloju suggested that the government should put more attention on tourism sector because most countries in the world now depend on tourism as a source of income for the country.
While speaking at the event , Ondo state governor Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu who was represented by Secretary to the State Governor, SSG ,Mr Sunday Ifedayo Abegunde said that youths should be more involved in the culture and tourism of the state and Nigeria at large, and they should keep the flag flying in the subsequent edition for the progress of sustainable and development of the state .
He noted that culture and tourism sector should not be seen as an entertainment avenue for people but a serious business for the people of the state and country, that is why the government have put various infrastructure to encourage and develop in the state .
The Ondo 2018 art , culture and tourism event started on Monday with a carnival as the introductory part of the even to celebrate the beautiful culture and tourism of the state to enhance the development of the state.
