Ondo to test-run Mare climbing festival

Addressing a press conference yesterday at the hill’s foot in Idanre, Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr. Tola Wewe with his counterpart in the Ministry of Information, Pastor Ranti Akerele, said the decision of the government to hold mountain climbing event was to attract tourists and investors from all over the world to the state. […]

Addressing a press conference yesterday at the hill’s foot in Idanre, Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr. Tola Wewe with his counterpart in the Ministry of Information, Pastor Ranti Akerele, said the decision of the government to hold mountain climbing event was to attract tourists and investors from all over the world to the state.

Wewe explained that Mare festival which emphasizes safety consciousness of the people would highlight and showcase the natural endowments of the state.

Apart from boosting tourism activities in the state, he said, the festival will incorporate unsacred aspects of other festivals in the state and would be used as a rallying point for the people to celebrate and enjoy during the festive season.

Akerele on his part said the state agovernment was in partnership with corporate organizations to stage the Mountain Climbing festival, stressing that the festival would be the first of its kind in the state come December this year.

His words ‘the vision and mission of the Mimiko led administration in Ondo State is to make Idanre Hills a world class tourist centre. The whole thing is not all about mountain climbing, it will also be an avenue to attract foreign investors. It will afford the people a rare opportunity to relax and enjoy the beautiful landscape’.

It will be recalled that the United Nations Educational Scientific Commission (UNESCO) has enlisted Idanre hills as one of the world tourists centres, now receiving the attention of the UNESCO.