By Adeola Oladele, Ibadan
Wife of the Oyo State governor, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi has described tourism as part of the avenues of creating employment opportunities for the unemployed youths at this period of economic downturn in the country.
Thus, she noted that there was the need for Nigerians to embrace the indigenous cultural values in the country, disclosing that the state government is committed to boosting the tourism sector to further enhance the socio-economic development of the state.
Mrs. Ajimobi, who spoke at the 2016 maiden edition of Amala Fiesta, themed: “From the Farm to the Table,”held at the Trans Amusement Park, Bodija, Ibadan on Thursday, noted that the state is blessed with so many potentials, adding that the event would serve as an instrument of celebrating Oyo State cuisine which is aimed at promoting food tourism.
According to her, the nutritional benefit in ‘Amala’ was too numerous to mention, adding that propagating the idea of celebrating the delicacy, personified the robust and dietary cultural heritage of the state.
This, Mrs. Ajimobi said, this would create an enabling environment for boosting culture and tourism in the state.
Earlier in his address of welcome, the state’s Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun explained that the fiesta was part of government’s responsibility to create enabling environment for the promotion of culture and tourism.
Representative of the Ibo community in Oyo State, Mr Alex Anozie in an interview hinged on the need to embrace agriculture for economic stability in the country.
The three-day event, organised by the state government, was aimed at promoting and encouraging food tourism in the state.
