Nation
Makinde Targets Tourism To Expand Oyo State Economy
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State says his administration is targeting tourism as a major plank of its economic expansion agenda.
Makinde made this known on Saturday at Igbo-Ora, during the annual World Twins Festival.
The Tide’s source reports that the festival was organised by the Igbo-Ora Community, in collaboration with the Twins World Creations and the State Government.
Makinde said the Twins Festival in Igbo-Ora, renowned as the world’s capital of twins and multiple births, has a great tourism potential for Ibarapaland and the state.
“This administration will do everything possible to make Ibarapa zone a tourists’ destination.
“Today, we have come to celebrate with the twins and I am very happy to be here.
“But, I must say that today’s festival is beyond celebrating the twins. We are talking about the potential for tourism from this event.
“We have succeeded in rejuvenating the state’s economy through agribusiness, but we will now focus on tourism as another major contributor to the state’s economy,” the Governor said.
Makinde said his administration had been able to turn around the security situation in Ibarapaland, adding that it would further put in place adequate infrastructure, which would help tourism to gain a foothold.
He said within the next few weeks, construction works would begin on the Ibadan-Eruwa Road and the Igbo-Ora-Iganna Road, with a view to fully integrating the zone into the economic development agenda of his administration.
The Governor also used the opportunity of the event to announce that he would start his campaign for the 2023 governorship election in Igbo-Ora.
Earlier, the traditional ruler of Igbo-Ora, Oba Jimoh Titiloye, thanked the governor for identifying with the land of twins and multiple births.
Titiloye, however, declared the support of his people for the governor’s re-election bid.
The Alliance Française Port Harcourt in conjunction with the Embassy of France Nigeria over the weekend joined the globe to campaign against the 2025 gender- based violence (GBV) with the theme: “16 Days of Activism Against Gender- Based Voice”
The event which took place at the event Hall of the Alliance Française Port Harcourt was in collaboration with the Female in Gaming Network, ( FIGN) and partnership with Nexal a body that seeks to promote online safety and responsible digital behaviour.
The Tide reports that the project which was aimed at promoting digital safety and girls inclusion in Gaming, with the initiative tagged ‘Gameover Gender- Base Violence’was part of the global campaign against gender- based Violence.
The activity which experienced a flavour of festivity was full of fun and excitements as participants took part in tournaments on popular digital games such as Mario kart and EAFC 25, with an intent to creating safer and more inclusive digital spaces.
The Director of the Alliance Française Port Harcourt, Mrs Marina Lacal said that these activities were designed to encourage inclusion of girls, team work and fair play on online gaming spaces, saying that the gaming world reflects these inequalities, where female players are often under represented.
According to her the main objectives of the initiative was to provide a supportive environment for girls and female in gaming network.
“GameOverGBV” is a project created to reshape this landscape by offering an innovative inclusiveness of girls on online digital Gaming community and digital environments that provide opportunities for creativity, learning and connection, but also fight against Gender-Based Violence Digital Gaming,”she said
She however, explained that the Digital Game, sport competitions, was launched to strengthen social and digital skills through games, workshops, and raise awareness among all young participants about respect, equality and digital citizenship.
The Tide News reports that in Port Harcourt, the competition brought together 100 young participants from three major universities: University of Port Harcourt, ( UNIPORT),Ignatius Ajuru University of Education(IAUE) and Rivers State University (RSU)as well as students from four selected secondary schools, Oginigba comprehensive Secondary.School, Vine lnternational, Virgo predicanda lnternational, and Excellent Montessori Secondary school.
“This is an approach where girls and boys can learn, play and collaborate in a more respectful and safe space for young women, while ensuring a safe, enjoyable and respectful digital environment. It also expose young women to cyberbullying, exclusion, sexist comments and online hate,” Mrs. Lacal said.
Earlier, a game developer Sophia Nei and her. team had engaged participants in an interactive session with the theme: “Can Video Games Be Safe Spaces For Girls?”
However, Mrs Nei and her team educated the girls on the benefits and violence on online digital gaming and urged them ( participants)to learn to say ‘No’ to Online hate, sexist and cyber bullying, while encouraging them(students) to stand up for themselves by reporting such issues to the appropriate authority.
Highlight of the competition was the awarding of prizes to winners by the Director of Alliance Française, Mrs Marina Lacal.
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