Kwara state government has expressed its willingness to partner with relevant organisations in its quest to promote the state’s rich cultural and historical heritage.

Speaking while playing host to the President and Founder of Asa Day Worldwide, Prince Joel Olaniyi Oyatoye, in Ilorin on Friday, the state commissioner for Communications, Bolanle Olukoju, said that the government would harness potential abound in culture and tourism to showcase the state to the global community.

Oyatoye was in the state to receive the endorsement of the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, and the state government on the plan to showcase the Ilorin Emirate Durbar Festival in Canada during the Asa Day Festival scheduled for November this year.

While thanking the President and Founder of Asa Day Worldwide for the plan to showcase the Ilorin Emirate Durbar Festival in Canada next month, Olukoju maintained that the internally generated revenue (IGR) of the state would grow appreciably if the culture and tourism of the state are well harnessed.

She added that the immense opportunities that abound in the sector would be unlocked for the socio-economic benefit of the state.

The commissioner, who alluded to some of the tourist sites in the state, said the present administration in the state had focused attention on the revival of the state culture and tourism.

She said this underscored a momentous milestone in advancing the state’s vibrant tourism industry.

Olukoju, therefore, lauded the President and members of Asa Day Worldwide for their unwavering commitment and passion to showcase the Ilorin Emirate Durbar Festival to the international community.

Earlier, the President and Founder of Asa Day Worldwide, Prince Joel Olaniyi Oyatoye, who listed a number of programmes his organization embarked upon since 2018 in Canada, Lagos and Oyo States, sought the support of the state government in the efforts to propel the state tourism industry to unprecedented heights.

Oyatoye pledged his readiness to collaborate with the Ilorin Emirate Council, the state government, and the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs to galvanize the Ilorin Emirate Durbar Festival to the global community.

The President and Founder of Asa Day Worldwide noted that the non-profit organization would collectively work towards the shared goal of unlocking the full potential of tourism and cultural heritage of the state for the betterment of all.