HOW ARTS AND CULTURAL TOURISM CAN SPUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN KWARA STATE By Alabidun, Shuaib Abdulrahman (Da- Golden) 08036897971

HOW ARTS AND CULTURAL TOURISM CAN SPUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN KWARA STATE
By Alabidun, Shuaib Abdulrahman (Da- Golden)
08036897971

Indigeneously, Kwara is enviously rich with highly interesting cultural heritage. Though in some parts of the state, the community culture has inadvertently becomes undiscovered latent treasure while in some parts, it has been abandoned. Expectedly, when combined with creative approaches, the recogmition of a community's arts and culture assets is an important element of economic development.

Recognizing and strengthening existing assets are vital parts of community development. Kwara, as it is today, if arts and cultural tourism can be treated as an essential part of the state's identity, it stands a great chance of surviving the current economic meltdown facing the entire globe. As a concerned citizen, one will be posed to ask: "Why need to rely on the Federal Allocation when the state is bountifully blessed with means of sustenance?"
By most accounts, Kwara's largely dependent on FAAC is not the best. Economic experts and some concerned stakeholders insist that tangible efforts should be made to reduce the overdependence on what monthly coming from the federal coffer to the state. However, it appears that the state government is thinking along the line with the establishment of Kwara State Internal Revenue Service, KWIRS in June, 2015 as part of efforts of the state government to expand its revenue base in view of the dwindling allocation from the federation account, which is empowered to collect and manage revenue on behalf of the state government and the 16 local councils in the State.
Interestingly it might look, when Kwara State Government, through the Office of Special Assistant to Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed, on Arts, Culture and Tourism and Kwara State Ministry of Culture and Tourism showcase the Kwara Cultural Heritages to the world through a command stage play tagged 'ASA WA' (OUR CULTURE).

The stage play, which happened to be a joint performance of more than twenty (20) top Nollywood actors and Kwara State Council For Arts and Culture's artists at Banquet Hall, Opposite Kwara State Government House, Ilorin, on Friday 27th May, 2016.This is really commendable. But beyond this, Kwara has a lot of tourism sites, if well harness, will draw crowd of tourists to the state and showcase its vast tourism potential. The state cultural heritage, which among others include, Jebba Tourist Sites where we have Mungo Park cenotaph, Juju Rock, the "Ahoyaya" waterfalls and the Jebba colony, where the panoramic view of Jebba township could be enjoyed. Other attractions include Lord Lugard Office located at Gudu in Edu Local Government, Extension of Kanji Lake National Park located in Kaiama Area, Moremi Festival in Offa, Offa Local Government, Ogunjokoro Iron Mass Park located in Gbodomi, near Jokoro, in Ipaiye district of Moro LGA. Also, Kwara has Ikan Festival, Imoleboja Rockshelter located in Odo-Owa in Oke-Ero LGA, Adin and Black Soap Industry also in Oke-Ero, Dada Pottery located at Okele Quarters in Ilorin, Agan Festival in Egosi Ekiti and Oke-Ero LGA respectively, Sheikh Alimi's Mosque at Emir's Palace in Ilorin.

Moreover, Kwara cultural heritages include Traditional weaving centres in Ilorin, The Watana Rock in Gwette Village of Baruten LGA, Wanzaya Cave at Tsarahi in Tsaragi, Edu LGA, Hide and Skin Tanning Industry at Okelele in Ilorin, Patigi Regatta located at Patigi in Patigi LGA, Okuta-Ilorin located at Idi-Ape Quarters in Ilorin, Olofa Palace in Offa LGA, Epa Festival in Ekiti and Oke-Ero LGAs, Awon Mass Wedding Festival at Shao in Moro LGA, Esie Museum in Esie, Irepodun LGA and Ningurume fish pond in Baruten LGA among others.

In the foregoing, the activities of the arts and culture sector can spur the economic development of Kwara, if the State Government can:
(i) Have a master plan to markets the tourism centres and outfits in the state.
(ii) Have a cultural policy which will be in line with the current economic realities.
(iii) Establish parastatal agencies with specialised functions that promote arts, culture and tourism in order to attract tourists into the state and showcase its vast tourism potential.
(iv) Initiate policies to create an enabling environment for the development of arts, culture and tourism.
(v) Try to recognize and strengthening the arts and culture assets of every community in the state.

Conclusively, the state, in partnership with Ministry of Information and Culture, being fortunate to have its Minister from Kwara can develop a vibrant relationship with symbiotic foreign institutions like UNESCO, European Union, African Union and other developmental partners so as to draw worldwide attention to the state. This will attract new and visiting populations, which, with the increase number of visitors will enhance resident participation and helps build economic and social capital as the length of time and money they spend, thereby contributing to continued development. It will increase the tax revenue. There will be abundant job creation. It will improve economic outcomes through patronage of local produces with high comparative advantage.