Ekiti Government pledges support for communities developing tourism assets, as Arinta Waterfall takes centre stage at World Tourism Day celebrations.
The Ekiti State Government has pledged to support communities across the state willing to develop their tourism potentials, saying tourism remains a priority of the Biodun Oyebanji administration.
The Director-General, Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development, Mr. Wale Ojo-Lanre, who represented Governor Biodun Oyebanji at the 2026 World Tourism Day celebration on Sunday at Arinta Waterfall, Ipole-Iloro, said the government was ready to work with communities to turn their tourist attractions into economic opportunities.
The celebration, held with the theme, “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism,” was used to highlight the tourism potential of Arinta Waterfall and the need for greater investment in the sector.
Ojo-Lanre said the government would support towns and communities that were prepared to develop their tourism assets, stressing that such support was part of the administration’s efforts to use tourism to drive economic development.
He said tourism was no longer only about leisure or visiting hotels, but had become an economic sector capable of transforming communities, creating jobs and generating income.
According to him, the choice of Arinta Waterfall for the celebration was deliberate, as it would help draw attention to the attraction and its potential to visitors and investors.
He said Arinta was among Nigeria’s notable waterfalls and was unique for having seven waterfalls within the site.
Ojo-Lanre said Ekiti was open to tourism investment, adding that the state had a ready market for tourism businesses, particularly with the presence of seven universities and their large student populations.
He said, “Ekiti is open for tourism investment and the return on investment is very high because there is demand. We have seven universities here in Ekiti and their students are always enthusiastic to visit tourist sites.
“Arinta Waterfall is one of them. We are very open for investment.”
Ojo-Lanre also said the deployment of digital technology and artificial intelligence would help communities promote their tourist attractions, reach wider audiences and improve visitors’ experiences.
Speaking at the event, the Olupole of Ipole-Iloro Kingdom, Oba Ezekiel Oladele, commended the state government for choosing Arinta Waterfall as the venue for the celebration and appealed for further support for the development of the site.
The monarch said Arinta had the potential to become a leading ecotourism destination in Nigeria if provided with the necessary infrastructure, professional management, environmental protection and private-sector investment.
He said developing the site would create employment opportunities for youths, generate income for the community, attract visitors and boost economic activities in the state.
Oba Oladele urged the government and investors to work with the people of Ipole-Iloro to unlock the full potential of the waterfall.
He also called for the use of digital platforms, virtual tours, online booking systems, digital maps, social media and artificial intelligence to promote Arinta Waterfall to audiences within and outside Nigeria.
The monarch, however, urged stakeholders to ensure that tourism development did not come at the expense of the environment and cultural heritage of the community.
He called on farmers operating within areas designated for the development and protection of the tourism corridor around ArintaWaterfall to vacate such areas in accordance with lawful directives and applicable government procedures.
Oba Oladele warned that indiscriminate farming and deforestation could damage the forest, vegetation and wider ecosystem supporting the waterfall.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ekiti State Council, Comrade Kayode Babatuyi, said the media would support efforts to promote Arinta Waterfall and other tourist attractions across the state.
Babatuyi, who chaired the occasion, said journalists had a responsibility to use their platforms to create awareness about the tourism potentials of Ekiti and attract visitors and investors.
He urged the media to take advantage of digital platforms to tell the stories of the state’s tourist attractions and showcase their cultural and natural heritage to a global audience.
He said sustained media coverage would increase the visibility of Arinta Waterfall and encourage greater attention to its development.
The Technical Adviser to the Governor on Youth Inclusion, Mr. Ayo Ojo, said the choice of Ipole-Iloro for the celebration was appropriate because of the community’s tourism potential and hospitality.
Ojo said the celebration provided an opportunity to showcase Ekiti’s tourism assets to the world, particularly in line with the theme of using artificial intelligence and digital technology to transform tourism.
He said, “Today is World Tourism Day and it is being celebrated all over the world. The theme is about AI and the digital agenda and how to transform tourism.
“So, we need a destination where we can showcase Ekiti to the world, and this is the perfect place. Ipole-Iloro is a very welcoming town with hospitality at its fullest.
“If you look at the LCDAs, they are the owners of Ikogosi Warm Springs and they also have other tourist destinations around here. So, this is the perfect destination and location to choose for such an event.
“Also, today, we have unlocked Arinta Waterfall and christened it the tourism laboratory. Now, the whole world can come and use AI technology to showcase Ekiti and post it on social media.”
