Oyo State, Southwest Nigeria, has celebrated the 2023 edition of the World Twins Festival at the land of Twins, Igbo-Ora community in the state’s Ibarapa zone.

The Festival was organised in collaboration with the Twins World Creation and the Oyo State Government.

The state Governor, Seyi Makinde, used the event to reiterate his administration’s commitment to the development of the tourism sector in the state.

The Governor also said his government would remain committed to its promise to improve the economy of Igbo-Ora and Ibarapa land through tourism and infrastructure development.

“My administration has achieved success in connecting and integrating the economies of the different zones of the state to that of Ibadan, the state capital.

“I can assure residents of the Ibarapa zone that the economy of the zone will be fully connected and integrated to the rest of the zones,” he said.

In his opening remarks, the state’s Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatunbosun, said the state government’s participation in the Igbo-Ora World Twins Festival was a fulfillment of Makinde’s promise.

He recalled that the governor had promised to recognise the uniqueness of each community in the state and to promote their tourism potential.

“The festival has promoted tourism in the state, and from 2024, the festival will be extended to all the five geo-political zones in the state with the grand finale taking place in Igbo-Ora,” Olatunbosun said.

The traditional ruler of Igbo-Ora, Oba Jimoh Titiloye, lauded Gov. Makinde for promoting the festival as a means of tourism and expansion of the state’s economy.

The festival is aimed at showcasing the multifunctional promotion of the international twinning cultural heritage of Igbo-Ora which has the highest concentration of living multiple births in the world.

Highlights of the event included twins’ parade, twins’ talent show and twins’ appellation, among others.