The InfoStride Forum

The Osun Osogbo festival is undoubtedly a festival with distinction. It has become a world class festival of limitless socio-economic benefits not only for the people of Osun state but for humanity at large. Of course its socio-economic benefits cannot be over-emphasized.

Osun Osogbo is a great endowment. Not only the indigenes of Osogbo town but the people of Osun state generally owe it a duty to always thank the Creator for this endowment which has placed Osogbo on the tourism map of the world.  The listing of Osun grove on the UNESCO socio-cultural tourist sites wouldn't have been without Osun Osogbo. We remember again the painstaking effort of late Susanne Wenger in getting the grove so recognised by UNESCO. May her soul continue to rest in peace.

Though this year's edition of Osun Osogbo was believed to have been celebrated in low key fashion due to the tussle over Ataoja stool, it wasn't however devoid of the glamour and all the excitements that usually accompany it. As typical of the festival, just as it attracted artists from far and near who had the opportunity to exhibit their artistic ingenuity, so did it also bring visitors and tourists from across the country and the Diaspora.

Also, the exhibition of excavated antiquities of the 17th century during this year's edition of Osun festival sort of added more glamour to the festival than it used to be. Those antiquities that were said to have been discovered at the Osun grove which included beads of 17th century, 300 years old calories etcetera bear testimony to the artistic ingenuity of the forebears of Osogbo people.   

Of interest to us here is the commitment of the present state government to harness the tourism potential of the state with a view to increasing the revenue base of the state. A practical step to demonstrate this commitment is the money earmarked recently for the upgrading of Osun grove. This is a step in the right direction that tells much of a government that realises the need for increased revenue for the state as the traditional sole dependence on monthly federal allocation can lead the state to nowhere.

We believe that one of the reasons why development was stalled throughout the period the PDP government held charge in the state was the penchant of that government to solely depend on federal allocation without looking inward with respect to tapping the tourism potential of the state to generate additional income. Lack of focus and creativity proved to be the undoing of Oyinlola's administration. 

For a non-oil producing state like Osun, it becomes imperative for any serious government that is determined to deliver the goods to be creative so as to ensure increased revenue.

Tourism, as we know, has become a big business in the world today. Thus, harnessing the tourism potential of any state is one major way of boosting the economy of that state which automatically leads to increased IGR (Internally Generated Revenue). This is why we commend the government of Ogbeni Gomina for looking towards this direction and doing everything possible to ensure that tourism becomes another source of income for the state. We cannot expect to be a viable state if our only source of income is the monthly federal allocation. To continue to go cap in hand to FG every month to collect the money that is far from being enough to run the state without working on other alternative means of generating revenue like tourism, is to leave our dear state in a state of perpetual underdevelopment.

We also like to commend the progressive efforts of corporate sponsors like the MTN Nigeria, Star beer, Eagle schnapps, Seaman schnapps etcetera that made this year's Osun festival a success. Their contributions in adding colour to this great festival deserves commendation. We urge other corporate organizations to come forth like the aforementioned to contribute their own quota too, towards promoting the festival. We believe that all and sundry stand to benefit greatly – socially and economically – from this festival which has become a must-watch on the continent of Africa.

Finally, while commending the state government for earmarking that whopping sum for the upgrading of Osun grove, we urge those who will be involved in the process of giving the grove a face-lift to spend the money judiciously. All hands must be on deck to give the government support in its effort to boost the economy of the state through tourism and agriculture. With the support of all, we will get to the Promised Land.

Osun Defender