Date Published: 05/18/09

Ondo to make Idanre Hill preferred tourist attraction centre

Ondo State government would explore all available resources to make Idanre Hills a preferred centre of tourism in the country.

The State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko stated this in Idanre at the weekend, during a reception held in honour of his chief of staff, Dr Kola Ademujimi and the state commissioner for commerce and industry, Mr Akin Akingbesote, both indigenes of the community.

Dr Mimiko, who noted that the state is blessed with abundant tourism potentials capable of attracting both local and foreign tourists to the state and also improving the state’s economy, maintained that his administration would be pro-active in utilizing the potentials for the socio-economic development of the state.

His words “In the course of four years, our ambition is that Idanre Hills will be the centre of tourism in Nigeria”.

He added “with every sense of modesty, before Donald Duke brought cable cars to Calabar, I was the chairman of tourism committee in 1992. We recommended a cable car for Idanre Hills across, way back 1992”.

Dr Mimiko promised to resuscitate the moribund cocoa processing industry in the area to boost commercial activities, especially cocoa business, which the community is famous for and also to create job opportunities for the people.

He however described the two honourees, Dr Kola Ademujimi and Mr Akin Akingbesote and as distinguished personalities, well focused and lovers of the community, whose wealth of experience would be very useful to the fulfillment of the objectives of his administration.

The Governor, who commended the traditional rulers of the three towns that constitute Idanre for maintaining the age-long unity among them, called for its sustainability for the progress of the area.

While congratulating the honourees, the Governor tasked them to be worthy ambassadors of the area and the state government, stressing that they must do everything possible to justify the confidence reposed in them by the people.

Earlier in his speech, the host Prof. Eniola Adeniyi thanked the Governor for the honour done the community and assured him of loyalties, qualitative and selfless services of the honourees towards ensuring good governance in the state.

Prof Adeniyi, who urged the traditional rulers and the people of the area to work together for the progress of Idanre land, however solicited their fervent prayers for their success, warning that they must not disturb the appointees with unnecessary demands.

In his speech, chairman of the occasion and retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Sunday Akintan, urged politicians to fear God and desist from evil acts.