Gani Adams to Southwest Governors: Invest in Tourism to Drive Economic Growth

The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has urged governors of Southwest states to prioritise tourism development as a sustainable path to economic prosperity, cultural preservation, and job creation. Speaking at recent cultural events, including the 2025 Osun-Osogbo Festival and the Okota Festival in Arigidi-Akoko, Ondo State, Adams described tourism as “an inexhaustible gold mine” capable of rivaling oil in revenue generation. He called on governors of Ondo, Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, and Ekiti to develop and market the region’s heritage sites such as Oodua Grove, Oranmiyan Grove, Olumo Rock, Oke Idanre, Oke Erinmo, and the Okota River to global standards. “Our oil and minerals will be exhausted one day, but tourism, when preserved, will continue to bring revenue for generations,” Adams said. “We must showcase our culture and landmarks to the world as other thriving tourist nations do.” At the Olumo Festival in Abeokuta, Adams projected the event could generate up to ₦10 billion for the local economy if well promoted. He cited examples like Thailand, which attracts 40 million tourists annually, and the UK with 35 million yearly visitors, stressing that Nigeria could achieve similar figures with improved security, infrastructure, and aggressive marketing. Adams also called for youth reorientation to see cultural heritage as an economic asset. He maintained that a coordinated regional tourism strategy, backed by state investment, could transform the Southwest into a globally recognised cultural destination.