By Oyeniyi Esan
A cultural exponent Erelu Asa of Yorubaland, Erelu Funmi Rotiba, has called on descendants of Oduduwa in Nigeria and Diaspora to proudly embrace the cultural values that exist in Yoruba race to attract tourists across the globe.
Speaking at the weekend, during the installation and conferment of Odole-Oodua of the Source on Sir (Dr.) Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu in Ile Ife, Osun State, by His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Arole Oodua- Ojaja 11, Rotiba said that Yoruba cultural values and tourism potentialities are parts of the best in the world.
She said “as a cultural ambassador I realized the economic power in the richness of our culture, when properly harnessed can generate tourism traffic. The tourism traffic generated can give more than the oil sector in ten folds.
“Ile-Ife, the Origin of all descendants of Oduduwa, has countless tourism artifacts which can aid the study of history and archaeology par excellence. While the tourism sites in Yoruba land should not be less than a thousand. I’ve visited over 400 tourism sites in South West Nigeria.
She also notes that “all these traditional positions and offices are of great importance to the history and essence of the people’s sense of belonging.
“The number of people that are here for the installation of Sir Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu alone is of tourism importance to the people and our domestic economy. It is also an indication that he choice of the His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi is right with the wide acceptance of the people. In a very serious sense, the event is historic and of great tourism importance. Ask the hoteliers, local bars operators, restaurant owners and cab drivers what they all made in this one day event.
“The king has really contributed to the development of tourism of not just the State of Osun but of Nigeria. It is important to look towards the promotion of our tourism potentialities,” she concluded.