Lagos Commissioner Urges Epe Residents To Prepare For Boom In Tourism Activities

In order to ensure the success of the community-based tourism initiative at the grassroots, the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, has called on residents of Epe to extend warm reception to travellers that visit the ancient town for tourism purposes.

Addressing residents of Epe, including traditional rulers and local government officials during a sensitisation programme held at the Epe Local Government Secretariat, Mrs. Akinbile-Yussuf said that the State Government will unravel the abundant tourism potentials across the State in order to make all communities in Lagos viable for tourism and economic activities.

The Commissioner explained that when the community-based tourism initiative becomes fully operational, Epe and its environs will become a beehive of activities, as tourists from across the world would visit the various communities in the division for sightseeing, recreation and participation in local festivals.

While craving for the support and understanding of residents, the Commissioner expressed the need to accommodate visitors and exhibit high-level tolerance to attract sales patronage through excellent services.

In her words: “I want to prepare your minds for the boom in tourism activities, which the entire Epe division will experience in a short while, as a result of this community-based tourism initiative that we have brought to your doorstep”.

“This initiative will translate into job opportunities for most of our youths, result in an increase in the sale of goods and services, including increased patronage for hotel businesses among others”, Akinbile-Yussuf stated.

The Commissioner, however, challenged residents of Epe to be ingenious in producing different creative items that define Epe, which tourists can buy as souvenirs when returning to their places of residence.

She also disclosed that plans are already in place to extend the training of tour guides being sponsored by the State Government to Epe, such that tourists can be better guided to the various places of historical attraction in a more professional way.

“Let us promote what we have so that our economy can continue to prosper through Tourism, Arts and Culture. This is an industry whose activities have ripple effects on other areas because tourism is a value chain of activities”, the Commissioner explained.

On her part, the Chairman of Epe Local Government, Princess Olayemi Animashaun, observed that the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is changing the narrative in the tourism sector from just an ordinary pleasurable activity to a viable business.

She listed the various lucrative sectors of tourism as Educational Tourism, Health Tourism, Cultural Tourism and Food Tourism, among several others, adding that virtually every human endeavour revolves around tourism.

Princess Animashaun disclosed that the tourism potentials within the Epe division have the capacity to bring the community at par with other developed cities in terms of development and business viability.

Her words: “Here within the Epe division, we have the First Post Office, there is Slave Trade market, there’s cold and hot water here in Epe, Lord Luggard House, Cannon guns and it is also here in Epe that an Elephant was first sighted. These are just a few of the potentials we have that, if fully harnessed, will change our story for the better”.