Sports tourism is a key component of the Oyo state Governor Seyi Makinde’s plan to boost the state’s economy through tourism and hospitality, according to Wasiu Olatubosun, the Oyo State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday in advance of the Oluyole Golf Tournament 2025, which is scheduled for August, Olatubosun said the governor has implemented a number of tourism enablers in the infrastructure, sports, and security sectors to maximize the state’s tourist potential.
He pointed out that sports continue to play a significant role in both tourism and hospitality because most sporting events, particularly golf, bring large crowds of people into a state, where they stay in hotels, visit tourist attractions, and frequent bars, clubs, and restaurants.
The commissioner praised Governor Makinde for implementing a number of success indicators, such as infrastructure and security, that have contributed to the growth of tourism.
Olatunbosun claimed that due of the governor’s well-maintained road systems and safe environment, the upcoming Golf Club would allow attendees to tour Ibadan and the state.
The State Government will continue to help stakeholders and investors who are eager to promote tourism within the state, he said, praising the event’s organizer, Folarin Laosun, as a great supporter of culture and tourism in the state.
“We in this state are always willing and ready to support anything that will support tourism,” he stated. We are here for Folarin Laosun for this reason. In addition to being the tournament’s creator and organizer, he has been a huge help to our ministry.
At the recently finished World Egungun Festival, which drew large crowds and contingents from the South-West and even the Republic of Benin, he played a very powerful role. The event was held at Liberty Stadium.
That demonstrates how solid a partner or stakeholder he has been in the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
In addition, my principal, Governor Seyi Makinde, the engineer of contemporary Oyo State, is the state’s top tourist official and a devoted member of the Ibadan Golf Club.
He thinks it’s important to help young people develop. Apart from the fact that the event will attract a large number of people to our state, I think we should assist Mr. Laosun when he comes up with this golfing event.
“Every time you host a tournament, you bring people to our state, and they will stay in our hotels. They will visit and observe the governor’s actions.” Additionally, they will dine and wine, which will significantly boost our state’s economy.
“If previous governments had concentrated on performance indicators that contribute to the success of tourism, we wouldn’t be where we are now. Which success indicators are these? Among them is security. People are willing to come here because they believe the state is safe, and you are bringing them here. Currently, this state is among the safest in Nigeria. Our state is greatly benefiting from the security architecture that our principal developed.
Infrastructure comes in second. We have well-maintained roads. When you are hosting golf events, even bringing Ladoke Akintola Airport up to international standards would help draw more attendees. People from all around the world will be able to travel into Ibadan.
Therefore, we should applaud Governor Makinde for his wonderful achievement of employing tourism to boost our state’s economy.
“I want to appreciate you for what you are doing in transforming and making a very strong legacy for the people,” Olatubosun said, praising the Club for the changes that had occurred there.
Seyi Alaba, the Club’s chairman, has already praised the government for its steady assistance.
He congratulated Laosun on bringing another quality tournament to the golfing community and calendar, and emphasized that golf could be a fantastic vehicle for drawing in investment and raising the state’s prestige.
Speaking as well, Laosun, the tournament’s organizer, said he intended to expand his commercial activities into the state and characterized it as a promising ground for industrial growth.
Between 120 and 150 players from across the nation are anticipated for this edition of the competition, which we began four years ago.
We are now hosting the fourth edition of this competition, which began as a dream almost four years ago. Our current tournament is an open tournament, meaning that amateur testing will take place over two days and in the golf community, making it a larger event than the previous three editions, which were only day tournaments.
“I’m glad the Ministry of Culture and Tourism is working with us on this today, and I can promise you that it will significantly increase Ibadan’s tourism industry.
In order to grow our business into Oyo State, we are also considering options there. We may decide to establish a factory there, most likely an assembly plant as well. This is due to our belief that Oyo State is an untapped industrial fertile ground,” he stated.
Between 120 and 150 players are anticipated to compete in the three-day Oluyole Amateur Golf Tournament, which is set to begin its fourth edition on August 22–24.
