Today, we visit Osun State as part of our Make Nigeria Better series. Again, we have another state here that is sitting on a lot of economic potential

Ayo Akinfe

[1] For starters, Osun State is home to the historic Yoruba town of Ile-Ife, which should be turned into a tourist hub on the same scale as Ibiza. One does not need to be a rocket scientist to know that the Osun State government needs to invest massively in Ile-Ife’s infrastructure like hotels, trams, restaurants, hospitals, roads, nightclubs, swimming pools, etc

[2] Also, given the prominence of a regional security outfit across the southwest geo-political zone, I think the Osun State government should build an Amotekun Park in somewhere like Ikirun where people can go and see leopards in the wild

[3] In addition, the Osun State government should invest heavily in security. Make the Osun State Amotekun Corps the role model for state police in Nigeria. Maybe even establish a training school in Oshogbo that can become a cash cow

[4] Build Africa's largest horticultural plantation in somewhere like Ikire. Osun State has always had a potential to grow flowers. Make it Nigeria’s horticultural capital

[5] Osun State has also had the potential to produce fruits en mass. I would like to see the state government help establish mega plantations to produce bananas, mangoes, pineapples, papaya, oranges, etc. Maybe build Africa's world's largest fruit farm in somewhere like Iwo with the Osun State government taking out say a 25% stake in the venture

[6] I also want to see the state government incest heavily in the annual Osun-Osogbo Festival. Bring it up to the same levels as say the Rio and Notting Hill Gate carnivals

[7] In 2005, the Ọsun-Ọsogbo Grove, was declared a World Heritage Site. It needs to be turned into a global tourist attraction on a par with Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem, Rome, Bethlehem, etc

[8] Osun State's Erin-Ijesha Waterfalls in Oriade Local Government Area has to be brought up to the level of Canada's Niagra Falls as both a tourist attraction and as a source of hydro-electric power. The Osun State government needs to seek to generate 10,000MW from a power plant located there

[9] Osun State is home to a dwindling population of royal antelope in the Ife South and Ife North local government areas. Governor Ademola Adeleke should build a mega wildlife colony in somewhere like Edunabon or Ifetedo, where they also breed other animals like grass cutters, springbok, impala. etc

[10] In addition, the Osun State government should create six industrial parks in Ilesha, Ile-Ife, Oshogbo, Ede, Gbogan and Ikire. Any foreign or local investors who open manufacturing plants there should be granted a two year tax holiday. Security will also be provided as will local housing with the construction of estates. Fruit and flower processing have got to be two industries that thrive in Osun State