The Ekiti State Government is set to turn the site of the first plane crash in Africa into a tourist’s haven as a way of enhancing the socio-economic sector of Ekiti state.
The Director-General of the Ekiti Council for Arts and Culture, Ambassador Wale Ojo Lanre disclosed this during an inspection tour of the site at Okelapa, Ikogosi Ekiti.
Ojo Lanre who revealed that the present administration under the leadership of Dr Kayode Fayemi was committed to identifying the various tourist and cultural sites in Ekiti State with the goal of adding value to the sites and turning such to sources of empowerment.
He also said that upgrading the Council to a full-fledged Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture was a development that has created an enabling environment crucial to achieving the cultural – tourism vision of Dr Fayemi.
Inspecting the relics of the aircraft, the Director-General pointed out that necessary steps would be put in place to ensure that the site is giving a face-lift to attract tourists saying all the tourist and cultural sites in Ekiti would be upgraded to acceptable global standard and showcased to the world.
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While appreciating the efforts of the Dr Kayode Fayemi led administration at developing the Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort site to an acceptable global standard as demonstrated during his first tenure, the paramount ruler of Ikogosi, His Royal Majesty Oba Elijah Olorunisola pledged the readiness and cooperation of the town at ensuring that the site is given a face-lift in order to attract tourists from far and near which according to him would have a multiplier effect on the revenue base of the people and the government.
Oba Olorunisola in his submission lamented the attitude of the immediate past administration towards the tourist site which he said did not only suffer neglect during that period but was vandalized and was put to ruins and expressed appreciation to the Dr Kayode Fayemi led administration for his passion for the tourist site.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Ganiyu Titilope said the Dr Kayode Fayemi led government has given the Ministry the necessary impetus to work and thanked him for appointing Ambassador Wale Ojo Lanre, a seasoned tourism journalist who has been driving the cultural – tourism vision of the state with the agrarian ability of an Ekiti man
The relics of the 2nd World War German plane which was conveying ammunitions crashed at exactly 8:00 pm on April 2nd,1942 at Okelapa Ikogosi, Ekiti killing all the people on board.
Here are some photos from the Ekiti Culture DG visit to the potential tourist site
