Oyin-oluwa Abiona.
In a positive twist, rising above the official challenges initially posed by the bifurcation of Tourism from its parent Ministry, the old Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism, the Honorable Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Prof Rasaki Ojo Bakare and the Director-General of the Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism, Barrister Wale Ojo-Lanre held an official meeting to discuss mutual synergy and ways to enhance cross-sectoral accomplishment of common goals.
The Director-General who led members of staff of the Bureau on a Courtesy visit to the Ministry described the visit as very necessary and long over-due.
Ambassador Ojo-Lanre disclosed that both agencies have the onerous responsibilities to promote economic growth using tourism, arts and culture as a tool.
While affirming that culture and tourism share complimentary roles and responsibilities to Ekiti State Government and people, the DG cautioned Civil Servants against overzealousness and miscarriage of loyalty. He warned workers in both agencies against personalizing or causing organizational conflicts. He assured Professor Bakare of the preparedness of his Bureau to work with Culture Ministry so that the arts, culture and tourism agenda of the Oyebanji administration could be achieved.
While welcoming the DG and his entourage, Prof Rasaki Ojo Bakare expressed satisfaction that both agencies have come to a mutual understanding of the natural interconnection and the need to work together.
He described the bifurcation of the old structure as a wise decision meant to ensure maximum attention to the development of both sectors. He said the intention of Governor Oyebanji in bifurcating the old structure was not aimed at setting the two agencies against each other.
He corroborated Ambassador Ojo-Lanre that Tourism and Culture have complimentary roles particularly in a cultural-tourism environment like Ekiti State.
Both Chief Executives further agreed to renew their synergy and ensure delivery of quality services to Ekiti State Culture and tourism public.
After the Tuesday meeting, both agencies met again with the Oke-igeti Festival Local Organizing Committee. The meeting, held at the Office of the Commissioner, was however, described by the Director of Culture, Prince Adebanji Adelusi, as an “icing on the cake” .
The director, while reporting the details of the meeting to Culture Matter, explained that both agencies, through their Chief Executives, agreed to collaborate for effective transformation of Oke-igeti Pilgrimage project into a world class project that would attract more than 10,000 participants annually.
Addressing members of the Committee, Prof Bakare was reported to have reiterated the reasons why both agencies should work together towards the success of the festival. He was quoted to have declared that “no agency of government would look away and allow any activity within its jurisdiction to grow untended like a shrub in the wild”.
According to him, the Oke-igeti Heritage Festival and the Pilgrimage require proper coordination, so that the image of the State can be protected against the activities of those who might be involved in the event for illicit purposes. He therefore urged the organizers to ensure no one is allowed to tarnish the reputation of the State through racketeering, impersonation or false pretences.
Bakare decried lack of statistics as a major setback in Nigeria. This, he also described as the bane of proper planning. He solicited the cooperation of the organizers towards getting proper information to build a data base for (documentation and future planning.
He also urged the Committee to consider creating a space within their programme (or an extra day) for official decoration of pilgrims. Such decoration ceremony, he explained, was meant for an organized environment. The decoration would officially confer the title of OIP, (Oke-igeti Pilgrim) on anyone who participated successfully in the visit to all the listed sacred groves and sites during the programme.
While addressing the Committee, the Director-General, Barrister Wale Ojo-Lanre emphasized the importance of ensuring that international best practices in organizing events of the proposed magnitude are emulated. He recalled his previous experiences at various international heritage tourism and pilgrimage travels.
He disclosed that Tour Guides have been trained to handle tour service needs and that those trained professionals have religious alliance with various faiths and are on standby to conduct all manners of religious tourists round their preferred destinations within Ekiti State.
Amb. Ojo-Lanre mentioned revenue generation and economic transformation as the main focus of festivals in contemporary times. He therefore advised that individual communities which form part of the itinerary of the festival should prepare to tap into the prospect of the massive presence of tourists at their communities by providing needed commercialized services which would be of mutual benefit to the tourists and themselves.
He encouraged Ìsèse adherents in Ekiti State to be more responsive to the need to impact more positively on the social perspectives about Ìsèse traditional practices and religions in the State.
He said, judging by the spiritual significance of Ekiti State among the Ìsèse States and communities and considering the massive presence or domiciliation of Yoruba ancestral gods on Ekiti cultural landscape, Ekiti State ought to be the first State to recognize Ìsèse and declare an official day for Ìsèse ahead of Osun, Ogun, Oyo and Lagos. This, according to him, calls for sober reflection and the urgent need to do certain things differently.
Thanking the Hon Commissioner and the Director-General, the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, Chief Agbongbon assured that all the admonitions, suggestions and recommendations would be worked upon. He promised that the committee would respond appropriately to all that have been discussed.
The Secretary of the Committee, Barrister Tunde Ola-Olorun also thanked the Ministry and the Bureau for their planning to make the programme successful.
Present at the meeting were the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Barrister Dele Arowosola, the Executive Secretary of the Bureau of Tourism Development, Barrister Adeboye Morakinyo, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Tourism Development, Hon. Michael Peculiar Ekiran.
Others include the Director of Culture, Prince Adebanji Oyinade Adelusi, Director of Documentation and Statistics in the Ministry, Mrs Afolabi Abeni Adejoke, her counterpart, Director of Administration and Supplies, Mr Sanmi Ogunrinde, a tourism staff, Mrs Adewunmi and other members of the Oke-igeti Local Organizing Committee.
Culture Matters 