By Michael Ofulue, Osogbo

The Osun State government has promised to provide adequate security for residents, participants, and visitors before, during, and after the 2024 Osun Osogbo festival.

Speaking to journalists in Osogbo, the Osun State capital,  the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Hon. Abiodun Bankole-Ojo, said the present administration is serious about securing the lives and property of the people.

Bankole-Ojo described the Osun Osogbo grove as one of the tourist centers with the largest natural forest and extensive land that has not been altered for a long time.

He stated that everything is set to take the festival to the next level by digitizing it for promotion.

According to him, “Our government is working seriously on the security aspect, and there will be adequate security during the Osun Osogbo festival this year because if there is no security, there won’t be a festival. This year’s festival will be colorful and remarkable.”

The commissioner highlighted the importance of private partnerships in cultural and heritage tourist centers to achieve the goal, stating that it would make the project more successful.

He further said that Governor Ademola Adeleke is doing his best to provide an enabling environment for tourist sites to boost the state economy.

He said, “Our government has identified all our tourist centers, but we can only address them one at a time. We have about 60 tourist centers in Osun State, but the major ones are 16.

“We have been able to activate some kinetic potential in our cultural heritage and tourist sites. Owala Dam is like an activational creation dam for the people to relax in, featuring canoeing and fishing. Sango Timi Ede in Ede has been prioritized and work is ongoing. Akunugba in Ila and Ife are also in progress.

“Tourist and cultural centers are essentially local and mostly owned by the people. We don’t do it alone; we collaborate with the people and work with them to ensure their involvement. Some are religious, and some are social and spiritual. It is the people’s belief that drives them.

“But as a government, our role is to provide an enabling environment and security for our residents. With the ongoing projects in the state, people will be amazed in the next six months,”.