The State Government of Osun has reiterated its resolve to drive economy of the State through Culture and Tourism.
Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Obawale Adebisi disclosed this during a courtesy visit paid him by the Theater and Motion Pictures Association of Nigeria Guild of Directors (TGD) in Osogbo. Obawale stated that the administration of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola has prioritised three major things through which he had planned to drive the economy of the State which include; Mining, Agriculture, culture and tourism
He said that Osun is blessed with about fifteen natural tourism sites, saying government has provision to develop them to taste, adding that work would have started on the sites but for paucity of funds adding that Government will however find a way to source for fund through partnering Investors to develop all the tourism Sites.
He spoke further, ” Osun Government is ready to support Thearter and Movie Industry and this is why we have been looking for Investors who can help us build Film Village round all our tourists sites and put them in shape which everybody in the Film Industry would like to patronize. The kind of Film Village we are proposing is the one that will accommodate minimum of ten groups to shoot film at once conveniently and this can be a unique opportunity for the artists in the movie industry”
The Commissioner said patronage of Osun culture and tourism is still very low compared to what the Governor has in plan, stressing that Government has designed a programme to market Thearter Practitioners in the State, while another plan is to develop Osun to a stage in which people will not think it’s a State in Nigeria but a Country on its own like Mecca, Jerusalem, Dubai among others.
” I want all the artists in Osun to register with government so that we will know the areas to give necessary support. I thank God for potentials in Osun and there are lots of people who are not indigenes of the State but they have made it in Osun especially both in Thearter and Music, the likes of Late Orlando Owoh, King Sunny Ade to mention but few.
According to the Commissioner “The Government has also planned to recognize those who had made landmarks in theater Industry and as well immortalize those who are dead. In our Cultural structure, we have selected some of those who are dead in both Thearter and Music to turn their houses to museum and it will be done as soon as we get money. In the light of these, I challenge you all to be more passionate with what you do because, whatever you do today becomes history tomorrow.
” I equally wish to intimate you that the ministry has planned a year-round programme where each Month will have one cultural activity. Although, we would have started but the outbreak of COVID-19 has prevented us from doing so but as soon as we get out of it, the programme will kick off properly.” The Commissioner explained.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman, TAMPAN Guild of Directors (TGD), Damola Olatunji thanked the Commissioner for his kind gesture, stating that Osun is blessed with culture and tourism potentials like Osun Grove, Olumirin Waterfalls among others which other States do not have which if harnessed properly by building Film Village round them, it will become easier to shoot films and it will attract film makers from across the globe thereby generating a lot of revenue for the Government.
According to him” We want to sell Osun to people through Thearter Arts. Osun is the hub of talents like late Oyin Adejobi, Duro Ladiipo, Alhaji Ajileye, Alhaji Kareem Adepoju (Baba Wande) among others. These theatre icons didn’t move out of Osun, yet, they excelled in the theatre industry. This means, it is not until you get to Lagos before you can make it in the film Industry”.
He said what Osun needed was an enabling environment for film production to thrive in the State
Present at the meeting were the Senior Special Assistant to the Commissioner on Culture and Tourism, Mr Raimi Opesina, Director Field Research and Documentation, Mrs Sola Akinsola, Director Hotels and Hospitality, Mrs Sola Akinyemi, TGD Executive members among others.
