The Ogun State Government has teamed up with Nike Art Gallery to create a new exhibition space at the Olumo Rock Tourist Centre in Abeokuta, with the goal of increasing annual tourist visits from 20,000 to over 100,000, according to Governor Dapo Abiodun. Abiodun shared this initiative on Wednesday when he met with the founder of Nike Art Gallery, Chief (Mrs) Nike Davies-Okundaye, at his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
“I visited Olumo Rock about a month ago and decided that we needed to restore it to its former glory. Currently, about 20,000 people visit Olumo Rock each year, and I believe we can boost that number at least tenfold,” the governor said. As part of the plan, an event hall at the tourist center will be transformed into a permanent gallery operated by Nike Art Gallery. “I instructed them to shut it down. Essentially, we want to dismantle it and convert it into a gallery for you to use as an exhibition space,” he explained to Davies-Okundaye.
The gallery is expected to be ready before the National Sports Festival in May, which will bring approximately 15,000 visitors to the state. “I want visitors to experience our tourist sites,” he added, mentioning attractions such as the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, the Ransome-Kuti family home, and the Adire market as some of the key heritage sites to be highlighted.
Governor Abiodun also emphasized the state’s enhanced infrastructure, saying, “With the new intra- and inter-state roads in place, you can now travel to Ogun State by rail and air. We’ve built one of Nigeria’s best airports, and soon you will be able to come by sea.”
In her remarks, Davies-Okundaye praised the state’s efforts to promote tourism and expressed confidence that the new gallery would attract international attention.“This gallery will bring many heads of state. The one I opened in Abuja already has hosted over ten heads of state, including those from South Korea and the Czech Republic. The same will happen here,” she said. She also commended the governor for supporting the Adire fabric industry.
“Adire is known across Nigeria, but Ogun has been promoting it for over 50 years. Today, Adire is our unique identity, and it’s something we can sell to Europeans,” she said. Abiodun reiterated his government’s commitment to the Adire industry, citing initiatives like the Adire Ogun Digital Marketplace, the mandatory wearing of Adire in the state, and the provision of solar-powered equipment to support artisans.
He also announced plans to develop a creative arts and entertainment village in collaboration with Bolanle Austen-Peters, which is expected to be completed within two months.
Source : https://punchng.com/
