The Director-General of the Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development, Amb. Wale Ojo-Lanre has praised the Ekiti State chapter of the Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN) for delivering a focused, non-partisan, value-adding Onidiri Ekiti Heritage Fair—an initiative he said aligns with the tourism, culture, and creative-economy agenda of Ekiti State Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji.

Speaking at The Farm, Iworoko Road, Ado-Ekiti on Nigeria’s independence Day, the DG conveyed the Governor’s goodwill and policy direction, noting that the administration’s emphasis on heritage protection, community enterprise, and job-creating cultural products provided the enabling environment for events like Onidiri to thrive.

“Tourism is at its best when it shines the spotlight on heritage and culture,” Amb. Ojo-Lanre said. “Without heritage, tourism is hollow; without culture, tourism is empty. Today, by showcasing Ìrun Dídì—traditional African hair weaving—ATPN has shown how identity can become product, how stories become experiences, and how culture drives prosperity.”

He commended Dr. Sayo Okowookere, Chairman of the Ekiti Chapter of ATPN, for his proactive leadership, stressing that the Bureau will continue to support the chapter so long as it remains true to ATPN’s founding vision. He further challenged the chapter to stage another event within the next three months, urging them to incorporate traditional occupational tourism such as mat weaving, pottery, and other indigenous crafts, while assuring full Bureau collaboration.

Amb. Ojo-Lanre also commended Senator Babafemi Ojudu for his strong support in providing The Farm as the venue and hosting the fair, describing it as “a model of private-public partnership in cultural tourism.”

In a further boost to the state’s tourism leadership, he revealed that Ekiti State will soon host the ATPN National President, Prince Oluwafemi Fadina, noting that the engagement will strengthen Ekiti’s profile as a national tourism hub.

The DG closed his goodwill message by linking the fair to the broader significance of Independence Day:

“As we celebrate national freedom, we also affirm cultural independence—the independence of the African mind, the pride of African identity, and the power of African creativity. The braids of our mothers and sisters remind us that culture is not behind us; it lives with us and shapes our future.”

“Long live Ekiti! Long live ATPN! Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.