Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has promised to upgrade facilities around the Iyake Suspended Lake at Ado Awaye to attract more investors and enhance development around the tourism corridor of the state.
The governor stated this on Saturday at the grand finale of 2024 Iyake International Festival, which was the 4th edition, held at the Festival Arena, Tourism Development Centre, Foot of Ado Mountain, Ado Awaye, Oyo State.
Governor Makinde was represented at the event by state Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun.
He said the state has identified the revenue generation tendency of the Iyake Suspended Lake, being the only natural one in the entire world. He added that funding of the tourist centre and others in the state would engender socio-economic development of the state.
Makinde said his administration would leave behind good legacies for subsequent governments, calling on investors to partner with the government in promoting tourism to achieve the expansion of the state’s economy.
He said: “We have two suspended lakes in the whole world; one is artificial while the other is natural. But the only natural one in the world is the Iyake Suspended Lake, which is domiciled here in Ado Awaye.
“When we came in, we realised that few people knew about Iyake and I took it upon myself, in conjunction with Alado of Ado Awaye, to create awareness so that people would know that there is a place like this somewhere in Oyo State.
“We also believe that in order to create more awareness, we should have a festival that we will be doing every year.
“In as much as Iyake is synonymous with Ado Awaye, if we decide to do a festival to commemorate that festival, we are using one stone to kill two birds; one is to celebrate the festival and the town, while the second is to call the attention of the world to the suspended lake.
“So, we can have investors who would be willing to invest or have enough fund to invest in the lake.
“The state government believes that there is no need for government to be in business but to create conducive environment for businesses to thrive.
“We have done that and we are now calling on investors because we want to leave a sustainable legacy to make things easy for the administrations coming after us.
“We are rewriting history in all our tourist sites and have started seeing many investors, but it is only proof of fund that is delaying them.
“Immediately after our international summit, many investors started coming to the state to invest, though we have them more in hotels, eateries and nightclubs business.
“We are still expecting to have more people who have resources to finance the tourism sites,” Makinde stated in a release by his Special Adviser (Media), Sulaimon Olanrewaju.
In his address, member representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju State Constituency in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Honourable Dele Adeola, commended the state government for voting funds to revolutionise Iyake Suspended Lake in the 2025 Budget, urging private investors to invest in the site.
Earlier, in their separate goodwill messages, the Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Sefiu Oyebola Adeyeri and the Ona-Onibudo of Igboho, Oba AbdulRasheed Anikulapo Jayeola, appreciated Governor Makinde’s vision in promoting culture and tourism sites for the economic prosperity of the state.
The two traditional rulers both enjoined citizens of the state to uphold tradition and culture so as not to go into extinction.
While calling on investors to support the government in its developmental strides, they urged the government to improve accessibility and relaxation spots at the tourist centre for improved internally generated revenue (IGR).
Also, in his message, the Royal Host, the Alado of Ado Awaye, Oba Rev’d Ademola Folakanmi Olugbile Makunledoye II, appreciated Governor Makinde for his unprecedented achievements in the state.
He assured investors of maximum profit of their investments on the Iyake Suspended Lake.
Earlier in his welcome address, Chairman, Planning Committee, Mr Bola Olalere, said the festival was aimed at showcasing and celebrating Iyake Suspended Lake and other wonders on the Ado Mountain.
He lauded Governor Makinde’s efforts at prioritising tourism and endorsing the festival, and sought for more attention to the physical development of the tourism site to make it a world-class tourist destination.
