Member representing Ibarapa Central and Ibarapa North Federal Constituency, Hon. (Dr.) Anthony Adebayo Adepoju, has raised a motion on the need for the Federal Government of Nigeria and UNESCO to recognise Igboora World Twins Festival and the Famous Idere Hills in Oyo State of Nigeria as intangible cultural heritage and tourist centres.
In his lead debate on the floor of the Nigerian House of Representatives on Thursday, February 6, 2025, Hon. Adepoju argued that Igboora has the unique reputation of being the headquarters of twins in the whole world, having been credited as the town with the highest number of twins or multiple births per family in each household in Nigeria, leading other celebrated twin towns in the world like Kodinhi in India, Velikaya Kopanya in Ukraine, and Candido Godoi in Brazil. “The town breaks the world record of global average birth rate of twins, which is put at around 12 births per 1000, as Igboora town’s record is close to 50 births per 1000,” he said.
The lawmaker also said that Idere Hills, located at Idere town, Ibarapa Central Local Government Area of Oyo State, is a world-class, breathtaking tourist centre known for its historical significance, comprising its lakes of different sizes, relics and historical sites dating back to 600 years and surrounded by beautiful, serene and ambient landscapes, already declared as a tourist centre by the Oyo State Government but worthy of international recognition.
The lawmaker expressed in the motion that Nigeria should harness its rich cultural heritage not only for the purpose of showcasing and boosting its diverse cultures but also for promoting the country’s tourism, which could be a mega income earner for the country’s economy, especially during this world’s cultural renaissance and consciousness.
The House, however, resolved to direct the House Committee on Culture and Tourism to invite the Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy to consider the merit of the prayers in the motion towards inviting UNESCO to declare the World Twins Festival in Igboora as a World Intangible Culture Heritage and Idere Hills as a world tourist centre. The motion was subsequently seconded and referred to the Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy to avail the Igboora World Twins Festival and Idere Hills, both at Igboora and Idere Towns, respectively, in Oyo State of Nigeria, with every available support and encouragement towards boosting the cultural heritage of the people of the constituency and the potential tourism advantage of Nigeria.