Aso-Ofi Day: Bayo Lawal urges Oke-ogun to re-elect Makinde, says Iseyin will become varsity town in next 5 years 

The fifth edition of the Aso-Ofi Festival, which began on Wednesday in the historic Iseyin town, was so colorful, memorable, and eventful as the deputy governor of Oyo state, Barrister Abdul-raheem Adebayo Lawal, disclosed that Governor Seyi Makinde has made the necessary investments in harnessing the tourism sector to improve the State’s economy. 

The governor, who served as the event’s Special Guest of Honor, was represented by Lawal, who also revealed that Iseyin will become a university town within the next five years. 

He made these remarks on Thursday during the 2022 Aso-Ofi Day event, which was hosted by the ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism in collaboration with the Iseyin Local Government and the Iseyin Weavers and Marketers Association.

According to him, today’s activity is a celebration but I need to let you know that during the inspection of the Aso-Ofi, I was of the opinion that the Aso-Ofi should by now be marketed overseas and such that people would also be coming form all over the world to buy the traditional wear. 

He urged the weavers association to continue supporting the State government in order to have access to more patronages from the administration. 

He equally exhorted them to take their work extremely seriously, stressing that such traditional initiative shouldn’t be abandoned. 

While disclosing that an exco meeting would soon be moved to Iseyin and that government officials would spend up to five days to show how much Governor Seyi appreciates Oke-Ogun, he added that the action would demonstrate how much the governor values the people of Oke-Ogun. 

The Deputy Governor, who was present with his lovely wife Chief (Mrs.) Ajibola Lawal, emphasized the love shown to the residents of Oke-ogun by Governor Seyi Makinde since he assumed office. 

He disclosed that one of his contributions and developmental efforts was the construction of roads, particularly the Ibadan-Iseyin road, which was built by the current administration.

He emphasized that Iseyin has developed into a nodarn and central town with the roads connectivity, making it very simple for people to travel within the shortest minutes.

 He added that Makinde’s government is for the improvement of Oke-ogun and the betterment of the entire Oyo state. 

Lawal continued by saying that the administration ensured that Iseyin has become a university town promising that the university which has just set for another university establishment would be put in place within the next five years. 

While expressing his satisfaction with the planning of the festival, which featured several activities, he revealed that Governor Makinde had approved funding for the activity’s hosting and vowed to give him a favorable review when he arrived in Ibadan.

“This is unique. There’s something you want to bring out of it. So, I urge you to keep it up,” he said.

MOUTHPIECE NGR reports that the event also featured the awarding of Tamunominini Makinde, the wife of the governor of Oyo, and Wasiu Olatubosun, the commissioner for information, as well as the presentation of artistic work by Adisa Olayode Olajori, a graduate of the polytechnic in Eruwa, to honor the governor and his wife. 

Hon. Abiodun Oni, Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Wasiu Olatubosun, Commissioner for Information, Hon. Fausat Sanni, Commissioner for Agriculture, Niyi Adebisi, Commissioner for Special Duties, Hon. Najim Omirinde, and Hon. Adebowale Adejumobi, Chairman of the Tourism and Culture Board, were among the prominent government officials present at the program. 

Others included Hon. Shina Oyedeji, a candidate for the PDP in the House of Representatives, Hon. Akinwole Akinwale Wolekanle, a member of OYHA Iseyin/Itesiwaju, Accord and APC members as well as royal fathers.