Omolabake Fasogbon
The Olu Epe of Epe Kingdom, Oba Shefiu Olatunji Adewale, has advised Lagos State Government to tap into the nation’s $2.953 billion tourism sector to grow the state’s Internal Generated Revenue (IGR).
Tourism, according to the monarch, is capable of driving the state to realise its 2023 projected IGR’s target of N1.04 trillion and likely surpass if the sector is given adequate attention and investment.
Adewale decried the poor attention paid to local tourism at a press conference to announce this year’s Kayokayo Festival in Epe, Lagos.
The monarch described the Kayokayo Festival as a massive economic game-changer going by its ability to attract tourists and urged Lagos to explore it actively.
He said: “In addition to the fun and fanfare, the state has a lot to leverage from the annual festival, which included the huge number of visitors expected across the globe, different tourism centres in Epe, networking opportunity as well as sales and exhibitions activities from investors across the globe, among others.”
Also speaking, the Assistant General Secretary, Festival Planning Committee, Mr. Giwa Moshood Olasupo, said that the week-long festival would be a reunion platform for all Epe indigenes in diaspora, which also stands to project economic endeavors of the local community.
Earlier, the Coordinator of Festival Organising Committee, Mr. Gbenga Abass, said that Kayokayo was an iconic festival of Epe indigenes that has religious, cultural and social undertone.
Activities lined up for the programme included Islamic lecture, medical mission, annual prayer and youth day, amongst others.
