The Osun State Government has taken the bull by the horn to develop the tourism sector through the endorsement of a Memorandum of Understanding with a private investor ‎to take charge of the Olumirin Waterfalls, in Erin-Ijesha.

Radio Nigeria Correspondent who witnessed the ceremony, said the project, which is expected to be completed within 16 months, will cost a sum of seventeen ‎million dollars.

Olumirin Waterfalls in Erin-Ijesha, Osun State is one of the tourist sites in the country, with its is natural endowment capable of attracting tourists from around the world.

Perhaps, its natural beauty and tendency to improve the economy of the state was the reason the state government decided to hand over the site to a private investor for remodelling and management with a view to generating income for the state and equally boosting its economic status.

The journey to find an investor which started about three years ago was ‎consummated on Friday 3rd of June with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding among the leaders of the Erin - Ijesha community, the investors and the state government.

Speaking on the development, the General Manager Osun Tourism Board, Mr Abiodun Balogun described the development as a milestone in the history of tourism development in the state

Mr Balogun, who maintained that the site was not sold, assured the people of the area that the government would ensure that the investors comply with every element contained in the agreement signed.

One of the leaders of the community, Senator Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa said efforts had been made in the past to get government involved in the development of the site and commended the state Governor for its foresight.

The Director of operations of the investing company, Mr Ladi Wilkey, stated that the cost of the project is estimated at about 17 million dollars, and is expected to be completed within 16months.

Mr Wilkey disclosed that the project would not only contribute to the economy of the state, but would also promote the cultural heritage of the town.

Expressing his delight on the development,Immediate Past Chairman, Osun State Tourism Board, Engineer Abimbola Daniyan the Immediate Past Chairman of the Osun State Tourism Board who designed the blueprint, Engineer Abimbola Daniyan said it was a dream comes true.

He was however optimistic that the investor will move to the site for speedy execution of the project.

http://www.radionigeriaibadan.com/news/1350-investor-takes-over-olumirin-waterfall-to-spend-17-million-dollars

Tolexander:
Good work and applause to the State Governor if the news is indeed real!

AshiwajuFoward:


It's real bro. Saw the news report on Galaxy TV 10 o'clock news earlier tonight.

mkoabiola:
Does it mean we will av to pay more when d investors take over cos I rember I paid less dan N200 to catch fun@d water fall.

PaulJohn1:


And don't you think #200 entrance fee is unreasonable for such tourist attraction. It ain't for charity mehn

When the freedom park in Lagos Island that has nothing attractive aside some sculptures, trees and some unkept ponds charges its visitors #200, then you expect a privately managed Erin Ijesha fall to be accessed with same #200. That's less than a dollar.
Left for me, nothing less than #2K for adults and #1K for kids should be charged after the renovation.

Better still, adults should pay #400 for each fall they visit and kids #200. Erin-Ijesha got 7 falls.

AustineE1:
How come the 'state of Osun' as formerly named by Aregbe in GEJs tenure has suddenly reverted back to being called Osun state in this present dispensation.....talk about misplaced priorities!

lwise:
It will be the best tourist center in Africa if the investor is serious about the business. I've been there before,such a great sight to behold.

mkoabiola:

Av u forgotten ds is state of Osun and not lagos where commercial activities thrive and where dere is cash.
If it is 2K den few indigenes will patronise d water falls.
Osun is NT even Ibadan nt to talk of Lagos,am frm osun state and I knw d income level over dere .
If d entrance fee is peg@2K den it d ppu of osun will b deprived of tourist attraction.

AshiwajuFoward:


Well, I see your point but I think you have to look at the bigger picture and implication/effect of its expansion and consequent fee hikes on the economic development of the town. If the upgrade is properly executed, it could translate into thousands of jobs and development for the town. Imagine that the investors aggressively market the site to not just Nigeria but the world (the way South Africans and Kenyans market their tourist attractions via DSTV, CNN, and other media outlets), we are talking about an explosion of tourist activity in that town that would translate into millions of dollars annually.

Even if just 1-million SW residents (out of its estimated 40-million residents) alone visit the place yearly and pay an average of N1000 entrance fee, that'll be N1billion naira revenue (that's over N80m monthly from gate fee alone), that doesn't include direct added revenue generated from lodging, entertainment, refreshments, e.t.c., from visitors/tourists. The trickle-down effect on the town and the state just cannot be overemphasized.

mkoabiola:

But d host state/community(osun n ijesha precisely) should b considered in tourist attraction,wen u talk abt swest am sure u talking abt Lagos only,
Fine,it wil provide employment opportunities for d ppu bt wat abt d centre of attraction(erin ijesha)
Ask a resident/indigene frm osun,he wil tell u he can nva pay N20004entrance fee even d students who are mainly d tourist (on excursion)dey prefer d N200 token dey pay.
Even ikogosi water fall doesn't charg high
It a good omen for d state as regards employmnt bt wat abt d tourist.