From Debra Ajulo, Ilorin
The Senator representing Kwara South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Lola Ashiru has advocated for a university of history and archeology in Esie town in Irepodun Local Government area of the state.
Ashiru made the call during a familiarization tour of tourism sites across various communities in the senatorial district. The Senator was accompanied on the visit by leaders and stalwarts of the All Progressives Congress (APC) party across the seven Local Government of the district.
According to the lawmaker, this would further promote and develop the tourism potentials of the area.
In his words; “This is a good site for a university of history and archeology.
“We would encourage the Federal Government to set up a university of history and archeology here in the museum.
“We need such institution because it is very important to rediscover our heritage and important in linking our present with our past.
“We need specialized university that will take care of specific needs of the people.
“You discover that in Nigeria universities today, history and archeology has become a misnomer priority.
“Investment here can never be wasted because it will trigger a lot of cultural and economic development for the nation and our people.”
Ashiru further disclosed that his office would also initiate an annual international conference on culture and arts to be hosted by the museum as part of efforts toward boosting tourism in the area.
He pledged to evolve workable synergy with stakeholders in promoting tourism development in the Senatorial district.
According to him such synergy was necessary to boost the tourism sector and equally bring about the desired socio-economic development to the district and the state at large. He said such opportunity will help to showcase that cultural tourism is an important and integral aspect of our life and existence that must be fully tapped.
“The idea was to draw the attention of government at all tiers and other stakeholders toward promoting tourism and its development for the betterment of the citizenry.
“It’s an opportunity for us to showcase that the development of tourism sites can bring about a lot of prosperity to our nation,” he said.
He said the familiarization visit was to have a firsthand situation of the sites, the challenges and prospects of the tourism sites in ensuring their growth and development.
Ashiru, who was conducted round the stone images at Esie National museum in Esie, by its curator, Mrs. Mopelola Omowumi, described the museum as uniquely different from other similar facilities across the country.
According to him, the Esie National museum is a museum that stands on a unique platform because the facts are majorly housed in the facility.
“The facts are on the ground as the displayed stone images were dug within the museum environment and dated back to the 10th century.
“The images and artifacts were not brought from somewhere but are products of the ancient heritage of our great grand fathers,” he said.
Mrs. Mopelola Omowumi, Curator of Esie National museum, in her remarks, said that the museum was the first of its kind in the country and established in 1775.
She listed part of the museum challenges as deplorable access roads, inadequate modern facilities as well as low patronage of visitors.
The Federal lawmaker and his team, who defied the downpour throughout the visit, were also at Ero-Omola waterfall at Idofin Igbana and Imole-boja rock shelter at Kajola, both in Oke-Ero Local Government of the districts.
