By Dolapo Ogunleye Adewumi
Yes, a revolution is unfolding in Efon Alaaye. You know the people of Efon—the valiant products of God who have mastered the art of climbing and living atop mountains. These no-nonsense, independent, and highly literate people have refused to be docile or passive under the administration of Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji.
While some towns in Ekiti State are daydreaming, sleeping, and side-walking in the affairs of the state, waiting for the Governor or Government to spoon-feed them, the people of Efon have chosen the path of progress. They have embraced and sustained what Governor Oyebanji has planted in their community—a living testament to his tourism revolution.
In yet another proof of his visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to repositioning Ekiti State as a premier destination for cultural and eco-tourism, Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji has been hailed for the landmark strides achieved through the establishment of the Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development.
This commendation follows a formal invitation extended to Barrister Wale Ojo-Lanre, Director General of the Bureau, by the Organizing Committee of the 2025 Efon Alaye Day Celebration. The invitation celebrates the Governor’s foresight in creating the Bureau, which has since spearheaded groundbreaking initiatives, unlocking the immense tourism potential of Oke Sogbanke and other scenic wonders across the state.
In a letter dated June 11, 2025, the Efon Alaye Day Organizing Committee expressed “the greatest pleasure” in inviting Barrister Ojo-Lanre to participate in the first-ever community-sponsored hiking expedition in Ekiti State, tagged “Efon Hike & Leisure in the Clouds” and the grand celebration “Efonxtravaganza.”
The committee praised the Bureau’s pacesetting role in driving tourism development, noting that this upcoming hiking event is a direct result of Governor Oyebanji’s bold decision to institutionalize tourism as a central pillar of Ekiti’s economic transformation. According to the organizers, this vision has “opened our eyes to the great tourism endowments locked in the Oke Sogbanke and inspired a forward-looking, adventurous community ready to make tourism a sustainable heritage.”
Scheduled for Thursday, August 21, 2025, with a grand finale on Saturday, August 23, the hiking expedition will mark a historic milestone for community-led adventure tourism in Ekiti. The organizers have already committed to making this initiative an annual event, further boosting domestic tourism and local economic development.
Reacting to this recognition, stakeholders across Ekiti’s tourism ecosystem have lauded Governor Oyebanji for creating an enabling environment where cultural festivities and adventure tourism can thrive. Industry experts highlight that since its inception, the Bureau of Tourism Development has transformed Ekiti’s tourism landscape—revitalizing Ikogosi Warm Springs through PPPs, drafting the state’s first Tourism Policy and Development Master Plan, and positioning Ekiti as Nigeria’s most creative and active tourism state.
The Efon Alaye Day invitation stands as yet another validation of Governor Oyebanji’s deliberate efforts to blend culture, nature, and community engagement in building a robust tourism economy. As preparations intensify for this pioneering event, one truth remains undeniable: Ekiti’s tourism revolution is alive, and Efon Alaaye is leading the march up the mountain of progress