From Kayode Abdulazeez, Ilorin

Without an iota of doubt, the Kwara born Senator Oyelola Ashiru, representing Kwara South Senatorial district of Kwara State has demonstrated his mission and vision to serve his people and ensuring that they are better, stronger and self-reliant.

The Offa-born senator who shared a philosophy and vision of President Muhammadu Buhari at promoting a viable, effective, efficient and sustainable economy as well as making Nigeria an investment-heaven for global economy and by implication positioning nation’s culture and Tourism economy among the global economies.

Senator Ashiru recently struck a partnership deal with a renowned Tourism organization, Ankara Tours and Tourism Company.  The development that was birthed out of the curiosity of the ever smiling senator is aimed at exposing the uniqueness of tourism sites located in his constituency.

Just like a thousand miles journey, that always started with a step, the partnership arrangement started with the sponsorship of some selected youth groups and tourism experts across the state and beyond to tour few of the already established tourism centres with strong potential to attract private investors and bring about quick development to his constituency.

The team of tourism experts was coordinated by a renowned tourism entrepreneur, Mrs. Yetunde Jato, who is the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Ankara Tours Company.

The tourism exercise which was held at the weekend, was tagged ‘Explore Kwara South Tourism Sites’ made Esie Museum first point of call, Esie which happened to be the first Museum in Nigeria and the largest Museum with soapstone images in the world.

The team later proceeded to Owu Natural Water Falls after explored Esie Museum and every side attractions available at the Museum. Owu natural water falls which was knew for its uniqueness in the sense of aesthetics landscape the place is made up.

The Owu natural water falls said by the Tourism experts to be the tallest water falls in Africa, with over 330meters height, more than the most visited Victoria Water falls in South Africa but Owu is left undeveloped and thereby it potentials too were also remain luck down.

While speaking with Journalists on the motives behind his action to sponsored people to explore those tourism sites, the senator, who spoke through one of his aide,  Mr. Benjamin Oyinloye, said, during his recent tour to all tourism centers in Kwara South, Senator Ashiru, did mentioned that the development of Kwara South tourist sites is not a unilateral task of any of the organ of government, and this is another good partnership to let the whole world see economy opportunities available through tourism in Kwara State.

“It is an assignment that will need synergy from all the three tiers of government and private organizations, partnering tourism experts and entrepreneurs like ‘Ankara Tours’ is part of the way to expose and develop the centers”

“The idea is simple; now that the state and the federal government is on the same page on how to develop tourist centers in Kwara State, the critical beneficiary of this efforts would be the private sector and this is what informed the assemblage of today” About 200 people were sponsored for the exercise by the senator.

While talking on the economy potential of the tourism attractive centre in Kwara South, most especially Owu natural water falls, which has some unique attractions Mrs. Yetunde Jato, said she has traveled places as tourist experts across Africa countries and Dubai and discovered that Nigeria is exceptionally blessed with fantastic natural tourism sites that could make the country a darling place by tourists across the world when given needed attention and as well serve as a good source of foreign earnings for the country.

She, however, appeal to the government to give serious consideration to the development of outstanding available tourism centers in the state as it can be of serious source of revenue generation.