As a professional with over a decade of experience in managing events, tourism development initiatives, and entertainment strategies across Southwest Nigeria, I write this open letter as both a passionate stakeholder and a concerned citizen with a deep interest in the transformation of Oyo State into a global tourism destination.
Almost a year has passed since the last Oyo State Tourism Summit—an ambitious two-day initiative held in the capital city, Ibadan. I commended that event in my editorial review of the Oyo State Youth Summithttps://ibconnectng.blogspot.com/2025/05/oyo-youth-summit-2025-missed.html, where I noted the government’s genuine interest in tourism potential. It was a commendable effort. But one successful event does not make a sustainable tourism ecosystem. There is an urgent need for continuity, strategy, and broader engagement to truly make tourism a pillar of Oyo State’s economy.
Commendable Progress in Infrastructure
Without mincing words, your administration has achieved what many deemed impossible in terms of infrastructural advancement. Roads in and around Ibadan have received critical attention, particularly in areas that had long been neglected. This is not just commendable—it is historic. From Molete to Gate, Iwo Road to Oke-Ado, road expansions and reconstructions have reshaped the face of the city. You have redefined governance in Oyo State, raising the bar for your successor.
However, there is a need to synchronize this infrastructural progress with intentional cultural and tourism development.
The Tourism Dilemma: Untapped Assets, Wasted Potential
Tourism, by definition, involves the movement of people for leisure, culture, and business. It has the power to shape perceptions, create jobs, and generate significant revenue. But Oyo State’s most iconic tourism assets remain tragically underdeveloped.
Bower’s Tower:
This historic monument, one of the highest points in Ibadan, offers a panoramic view of the city and immense tourism potential. Yet, the access road is in deplorable condition. Tourists and students avoid the site not because it lacks significance, but because it lacks support. A dedicated transport system—like a shuttle or “Ibadan Heritage Bus Tour”—should be introduced to link key tourist attractions. The site also requires a major facelift, digital information kiosks, and ticketed events.
Cultural Centre, Mokola:
How can a state as culturally rich as Oyo host a tourism summit in locations outside its own cultural edifice? The Cultural Centre at Mokola, once a symbol of Yoruba heritage, is now a shadow of its former self. Rather than abandon it, why not renovate, reimagine, and position it as the core venue for future cultural summits, including adding a surrounding “Cultural Village” with artisan stalls, local food courts, and performance stages?
Eleyele Lake:
This natural asset is crying out for attention. The access road is an obstacle course, visitor parking is nonexistent, and the surrounding leisure huts and pubs are in dire need of sanitation and regulation. With basic landscaping, proper lighting, and parking space, Eleyele Lake can become Ibadan’s version of a waterfront tourism hub—something akin to Lekki’s Elegushi or Jabi Lake in Abuja.
A Tourism Summit Should Be More Than Talk
It is not enough to gather officials and speakers for panel sessions that end with photo ops and jollof rice. A real summit must be a festival of identity, a full-scale campaign that sells the state’s soul to the world. This means carefully curating all components—experiences, narratives, and participants—to focus exclusively on Oyo State’s unique offerings.
Recommendations for a World-Class Tourism Summit
1. Curate Exclusivity
Invite world-renowned individuals with roots in Ibadan or Oyo State. Their presence alone will draw global attention.
Sade Adu: A global icon, born in Ibadan, with over 75 million albums sold. Imagine the closing concert of the summit headlined by her—it would make global headlines.
Hugo Weaving: Another Ibadan-born global star who has featured in The Matrix, Lord of the Rings, and Captain America. A homecoming keynote or film screening in his honor could be monumental.
Beautiful Nubia: A cultural ambassador whose music bridges tradition and modernity. He must be prominently featured.
2. Restrict External Engagements
For impact and focus, these celebrities and key guests should be contracted to commit to Oyo State exclusively during the 3-month tourism campaign window. Their visibility must be tied directly to the success of this summit.
3. Invest in Local Content
The entire art, entertainment, and hospitality package should be sourced within Oyo State. Let our own artists shine. Lagos entertainers, except those who originally hail from Oyo, should not headline our event. This is how you build local ecosystems and talent pipelines.
4. Create Experiential Programs
Heritage Walks across Dugbe, Mapo Hall, and Agodi Gardens.
Cuisine Showcases featuring amala festivals, palm wine tastings, and market tours.
Craft Markets for local leather, adire, and tie-and-dye artisans.
Digital Tourism Innovation Hub where local tech startups pitch tourism-based solutions.
5. Close with a Mega Concert
A grand finale music and culture concert featuring global acts of Oyo descent alongside rising local stars. Not only does this cement the event in global memory, it also promotes cultural pride and public participation.
Why It Matters
A tourism summit—if well designed—can do for Oyo State what Notting Hill Carnival does for London, what the Durban July does for South Africa, or what Coachella does for California. It is not just about culture; it is about economy. Oyo State can earn hundreds of millions annually from consistent tourism campaigns backed by smart infrastructure, local content, and global storytelling.
We have the venues. We have the people. We have the history. What we need is a strategic direction—and political will.
Governor Makinde, you are already the most impactful Governor Oyo has had in modern history. Now is the time to build a tourism legacy that makes Ibadan the unofficial culture capital of West Africa. Your name can be etched into global memory, not just local politics.
Let us not just talk tourism. Let us build it.
Yours in service and partnership,
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