“Akwaaba has helped Ekiti turn visibility to visits”
The Director General of Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development , Ambassador Wale Ojolanre this year again put Ekiti state on the frount burner of tourism discuss with its agro tourism expose and promotion at recently concluded Akwaaba African Market in Lagos.
Ambassador Ojolanre noted that the state had earlier inaugurated flight operations at its Ekiti State Agro Allied International Cargo Airport to promote its agri-revolution.
Speaking with Journalists at Akwaaba African Travel Market in Lagos,
Ambassador Ojolanre noted that Ekiti people are turning to farm now.
He said today, Ekiti hosts the largest cassava plantation, the largest pineapple plantation in Nigeria.
The boss of Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development observed that the state has a growing number of young people going into farming.
He stated that the agri-revolution is to feed the agro allied airport as some industries are now springing up.
Ojolanre said the state is now exploring the possibilities of this agri-revolution to turn the growing product into food items.
“We are telling you to fly to Ekiti, farm in Ekiti, taste Ekiti, explore, work in Ekiti and lastly, we want you to come and invest in Ekiti , he said.
The DG said the state is producing agri-products that will be exported from Ekiti.
He hinted that Ekiti State International Ponded Yam Koshora Tourism Festival will be holding next year.
He added that: “We are targeting Guinness Book of Records. Because it’s going to be 1,000 mortars. And 2,000 pistons.Three to one. And imagine, 1,000 and 2,000 people.
Ojolanre disclosed that the Akwaaba African Travel Market has been able to help Ekiti to turn visibility to visits.
He stated that Ekiti state is doing well in tourism because she has a Governor who believes that the potentiality of the state must not be hidden.
The Ekiti Tourism Director General noted that Tourism cannot be run in silo, stressing that’ ” you can’t stay in your village and say you are promoting tourism. You can’t stay in Ekiti and say you are reaching the world”.
He pointed out that there are platforms, both national, international, inter-regional platforms, that will help you to aggregate, understand, and sustain your effort of marketing or selling your product.
“And Ekiti is a product. Ekiti is not just a mini bonus product. I believe that Ekiti state is greater for tourism.
That you don’t hide a light under the bushel. You light a light and put it on the hill. And that’s why the Governor encourages us to always locate and prioritize our participation in tourism conferences, fairs, and Exhibitions. And we have found Akwaaba as one of the platforms, one of the strongest and the best platforms, I’m emphasizing mine”.
In Nigeria, he said Akwaaba travel market is the best, most consistent, most popular, and wide network travel market in West Africa, If not in Africa.
He maintained that: “When it comes to West Africa, you can’t beat Akwaaba. And my Governor Abiodun Abayomi Oyebanji said, Akwaaba is it. We must always be present at Akwaaba. And don’t let me deceive you. Akwaaba is not just a place you come and make money. Akwaaba is a place that gives you visibility. But visibility is not the end of it. How do you turn your visibility to visit? We have analyzed that Akwaaba has been able to help Ekiti to turn visibility to visit,”.
In the words of Ambassador Ojolanre,
“Let me tell you.If a High Commissioner of a country like Botswana visited Ekiti stand, took picture, took video, and tell us that she would love to visit Ekiti. So our visibility has turned to visit. It is economic empowerment. “So that is why we have to make it every year, we must attend Akwaaba.
We try to sell Ekiti as an experience. The totality of Ekiti. And each year, we come with different and unique perspective of Ekiti”.
