Ogun community seeks support on tourism

Traditional leaders of Ebute-Igbooro in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State have called on the state government to provide infrastructure and other facilities to transform Oleyo Waterfall into a major cultural and tourist attraction.

They said the ancient waterfall had existed for generations and historically played an important role in the cultural and spiritual life of the people.

The Elebute of Ebute-Igbooro, Alhaji Amusa Dosumu, in statement made available to our correspondent on Saturday, said the waterfall was situated on Ebute-Igbooro land and belonged to the community.

Oba Dosumu spoke about the cultural significance of the Oleyo Waterfall, saying the community had continued to associate the spring with positive experiences and good water.

There are many benefits because this Oleyo water does not tolerate evil. We see that it brings good water,” he said.

The traditional ruler appealed to the Ogun State Government to support the community in developing and promoting the site, particularly as part of efforts to preserve Yoruba cultural heritage and attract visitors.

Similarly, the Balogun of Ebute-Igbooro, Jeremiah Ijiola, described Oleyo as a remarkable natural and cultural heritage whose potential, he said, had not been fully explored.

Ijiola said members of the community had traditionally visited the location to pray, adding that the spring had been associated with local traditional practices for generations.

Nobody ever thought that something as wonderful and awe-inspiring as this existed here,” he said.

He explained that prayers and traditional activities had historically been conducted at the location, adding that the community had stories of rainfall occurring during such occasions.

Ijiola urged the government to take ownership of the development process by providing infrastructure and facilities that could make Oleyo Waterfall accessible to tourists and visitors.

He drew a comparison with the development of Olumo Rock in Abeokuta, saying Oleyo Waterfall could similarly be transformed into a destination capable of attracting visitors from within and outside the country.

“Just like they took care of Olumo, how they renovated Olumo Rock so that it became a tourist centre—where people come from far away distances,” he said.

The Youth Leader of Ebute-Igbooro, Emmanuel Akan, also said the waterfall was not a recent discovery, explaining that the existence and traditional significance of the spring had been passed down through generations.

Oleyo has been here long before we were born. Long before our fathers gave birth to us, we heard that Oleyo was here and that they used to worship it. So, it is not a recent discovery,” Akan said.

He reiterated the community’s claim that the surrounding area belonged to Ebute-Igbooro, adding that the spring had historically been used by their forefathers.

“The fathers before us who gave birth to my own parents were already worshipping it here in Ebute,” he said.

Akan also spoke about the growing interest in the water, claiming that visitors from different parts of Nigeria and abroad had been coming to the location to collect it for prayers and traditional purposes.

“As it is right now, people come all the way from abroad, from Abuja, and from everywhere to fetch this water,” he said.

He appealed to the Ogun State Government to intervene by providing infrastructure and helping the community transform the location into a modern cultural and tourism destination.

“We want the government to assist us with it—to help elevate our Yoruba cultural heritage, to modernise it, and to turn it into something great and remarkable,” Akan said.

He specifically called for improved access roads, fencing, renovation and other basic facilities that could make the site suitable for visitors.