The Ogun State Government has renovated and commissioned the Hall of Fame at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, as part of efforts to promote artistic tourism and enhance visitors’ experiences.
The State Ministry of Culture and Tourism has also concluded arrangements for commencement of a state-wide artistic exhibition on Monday, September 21, 2026, at the Cultural Centre, in the city
The State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Hon. Sesan Fagbayi during the commissioning ceremony, said the renovation initiative was designed to promote experiential tourism by creating visually appealing and interactive spaces that would attract tourists, school groups and cultural enthusiasts.
According to him, the renovation reflected the Ministry’s commitment to developing cultural attractions that combined entertainment, education and heritage preservation, while also creating opportunities for increased patronage and revenue generation.
Fagbayi, explained that the renovated Hall of Fame had a combination of immersive set designs with curated displays, celebrating local talent, creativity and cultural heritage.
The Commissioner commended the Visual Arts Department for demonstrating creativity and professionalism in the project, urging its personnel to sustain their efforts towards achieving greater feats in the promotion of Ogun’s artistic heritage.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Quudus Yusuff, said the renovation was part of the Ministry’s broader efforts to make cultural sites more interactive, attractive and visitor-friendly.
Yusuff, noted that the enhanced facility was designed to marry aesthetic presentation with educational value, thereby providing visitors with an engaging cultural experience.
He highlighted some of the new features to include a staged home setting, decorated with locally produced fabrics, a specialised sofa made from recycled tyres and other materials, as well as a modernised palace setting equipped with mannequins to enhance photography and visual displays.
He added that the facility also had in its kitty a private meeting room suitable for two to three people.
Also speaking, the Director of Visual Arts, Mr. Emmanuel Ikwe, said the new installation was designed to offer visitors more than conventional snapshots, providing them with opportunities to pose in carefully crafted settings that evoke the atmosphere and grandeur of royalty.
Ikwe, added that the facelift was developed in-house, with contributions from local artists and stakeholders across various visual arts disciplines, further demonstrating the creative talent available in the State.
Meanwhile the State Ministry of Culture and Tourism will be holding its state-wide artistic exhibition beginning from Monday September 21, 2026, at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta.
The Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Hon. Sesan Fagbayi, disclosed this while speaking with Journalists in Abeokuta, explaining that the exhibition was designed to showcase the talents and creative potential of artists in the State while providing opportunities for networking, collaboration and greater recognition.
Fagbayi, said the initiative was part of the Ministry’s efforts to promote the creative industry and provide a platform for artists/ stakeholders to display their works to a wider audience.
Responding to questions on the development of cultural heritage sites in the State, the Commissioner reiterated the present administration’s commitment to upgrading cultural facilities and heritage sites across Ogun.
Speaking on new tourism discoveries, he highlighted the recently identified Oleyo waterfall at Ebute Igboro in the Yewa North Local Government which potentials, if harnessed would stand out to be recognised as the first waterfall in the State, which would add to the revenue base of the State, when properly developed and promoted.
He said such discoveries would contribute to the development, promotion and diversification of the state’s tourism sector, urging Local Governments across the State to identify and document viable tourism sites and cultural heritage within their domains.
The Commissioner in a statement by Information and Public Relations Officer of the ministry, Kofoworola Idowu, therefore called on individuals, corporate organisations and non-governmental organisations to partner with the State Government in the development and promotion of underdeveloped tourism sites and cultural heritage in the State.
“Tourism is a collective responsibility, Government alone cannot do it all. We need individuals, organisations and other stakeholders to come together to develop and promote our tourism assets,” he said.
Fagbayi, further noted that cultural festivals had contributed significantly to putting Ogun State on the global tourism map, adding that such events also provided opportunities for Government to interact closely with the people, in line with the administration’s commitment to grassroots engagement.
He thereafter announced that the State would join other parts of the world to celebrate the 2026 World Tourism Day on September 27, adding that the celebration would be held with the theme “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism”.
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