Omolabake Fasogbon
Tourist investors across the globe who gathered at the grand finale of Kayokayo festival in Epe, Lagos have charted growth path for the development of the community.
At the event which held at Lagos Theatre, Epe, experts urged community leaders to leverage Epe tourism potentials more than before to improve the socio-economic status of the locality.
Epe, which economic strength lies in tourism and fishing, is being projected as the tourism destination for Lagos state with a high chance of boosting the Gross Domestic Product,GDP of the state.
Speaking, Coordinator of Kayokayo Festival, Otunba Gbenga Abass, noted that beyond the fanfare and religious activities that characterised festival, the administrator of the community usually employed the occasion to discuss, explore and renew business prospects.
He said this in turn had helped to advance opportunities in the locale to potential investors who are always willing do business with the community.
“Kayokayo festival is a culture, a tradition and our way of life that must be celebrated, but beyond showcasing our culture, it is an opportunity for us to promote the local economy. This is clear with the crowd of people coming into Epe in the last one week and pumping millions of money into the economy.
“From next year, we shall be calling for corporate sponsorship for the programme. The sponsorship will not be monetary but to give employment to unemployed youths in the community. If you give us money we will not take it, we need to fill the employment gap in our community.”
Earlier, the Otun Balogun of Epe Kingdom, High Chief Wale Mogaji stated that the festival was significant and symbolic because it reminded sons and daughters of Epe on the journey of their forefather from Lagos to Epe.
He reiterated that the festival was packaged to get to the height that that people all over the world would be looking forward to it.
On his part, Member representing Epe Constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Abiodun Tobun, sought for investment, adding that that the community envisaged profitable opportunities.
“We must all work together to ensure that we deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of Epe,” he said.
