NTDC Director General, Mrs Sally Mbanefo and Ooni Extols Ife's Tourism Potentials

                In his remarks before officially declaring Ile-Ife “a Tourism Zone”, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi has said that the historical assets of Ile-Ife, the cradle of Yoruba, was enough to empower Nigeria and Africa at large and urged tourists across the world to thrill themselves with artifacts available in the town. Oba Ogunwusi who spoke at the weekend during the official declaration listed some of the already discovered tourist attractions in the town. Ooni Ogunwusi said: 

“Ark of Noah, which the entire world has been searching for is in Ile-Ife. The Ark of Noah has been in existence and it is in Ife land. “We want to bring out the mysteries for the whole world to see. God thrives on mystery and every inch of Ile Ife- the land of expansion-is full of mystery. “God has blessed us with some mysteries and we need to bless the world with those mysteries. For instance, there was a barren twin in Ife, who turned herself into a river in order to bless the town. It remains the first wife of any monarch in this town. “If you dare the water and enter it deliberately, as small as it is, you will never return. But if you fall into it by mistake, it will protect you and drop you at the nearest bank where your relatives can see you. “This river is Yeyemoolu, there is nothing you ask from her, that Yeyemoolu will not give you. This is another tourist attraction, a mystery river that the world can explore.” In her speech, the Director General, Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation, NTDC, Mrs. Sally Nwechue-Mbanefo declared South West region a “tourism-friendly region.” Despite having the tendency to challenge Lagos as the capital of tourism in Nigeria, Mbanefo said much of the tourism potentials of Ife have remained untapped. But according to her, making the town a Global Tourist Zone will be of advantage and promised to assist in building an edifice for Yoruba mythical legend, Moremi in the town, describing her as a great heroine that should not be forgotten. “Much reverence has not been given to Moremi as it has been given to Queen Aminah, another great woman from Northern Nigeria. Ile-Ife has a lot and is rich in culture. Ile-Ife is in South-West and South-West is a friendly region for tourism. Ile- Ife has done a lot, but it still has much deeper than what it has been offering,” Mbanefo said. The NTDC DG posited that with the present economic realities, if fully explored, tourism potentials of Ile-Ife, as the origin of mankind will enhance the economic fortunes of Nigeria and her citizens. .