Member representing Ibarapa Central and Ibarapa North Federal Constituency, Hon. (Dr.) Anthony Adebayo Adepoju, has received the convener of the Hotel Managers Conference, Mr. Olugbenga Omotayo Sunday, who was recently appointed by the Oyo State Government as consultant to Idere Hills, a tourist destination in the Ibarapa region of Oyo State.
The meeting, according to the lawmaker, was part of his efforts to collaborate with necessary stakeholders in the tourism industry in order to promote and bring tourist destinations in the two local government areas to the front burner.
Hon. Adepoju, in his remarks, commended Mr. Sunday for his act of ingenuity in discovering various tourist sites in Ibarapa Land, noting that tourism is the oil of the 21st century.
The Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Federal Character, said that he would use his good office to facilitate some projects around the tourist sites in the federal constituency, especially Idere Hills, which he disclosed that he would be exploring in the next few weeks so as to identify the real areas to come in as government.
Appreciating the lawmaker, Mr. Olugbenga said that Hon. Adepoju’s accessible representation has made it possible for him to have a first-ever roundtable discussion on issues relating to development with a lawmaker representing any of the constituencies in Ibarapa Land.
The tourism expert expressed that most of the initiatives of Ibarapakan are unique, adding that the constituency at large made the right choice with the mandate given to the technocrat cum lawmaker.
Omotayo also commended Hon. Adepoju for not just being transparent in his dealings but also being accountable. According to him, governance in the constituency was like a private business prior to his emergence, applauding the lawmaker for not reneging on his electoral promises.
Sunday said that although different individuals supported one candidate or the other in the election that produced Hon. Adepoju, he expressed joy that the constituency in the end found itself in capable hands, which he described as a victory for the entire constituency regardless of the side electorates stood in the last election.
He suggested how tourism could reduce unemployment by engaging people in some special skill acquisition programmes relating to hospitality, thus increasing the per capita income of the trainees, urging the lawmaker to key into the initiative in the constituency.
Olugbenga, however, assured the lawmaker of his total support and meaningful collaboration in developing tourist sites in the federal constituency for the benefit of all.
