HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism was created by the Executive Bill cited as “The Ministry of Culture and Tourism Law, 2023 and was de-coupled from the erstwhile Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism in June 2023, following an Executive Order signed by His Excellency, Engr. Seyi Makinde, FNSE, DSC, GSSRS, the Executive Governor of Oyo State. The creation of the Ministry marked a significant administrative reform, as cultural-tourism sector affairs were previously subsumed under the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism and now Ministry of Information and Orientation.
The Ministry works in collaboration with two (2) relevant agencies namely:
- Oyo State Council for Arts and Culture (Cultural Centre):
This was built in 1977 to promote Arts and Culture in Oyo State.
- Oyo State Tourism Board:
This agency is responsible for handling tourism affairs, hospitality business and heritage sites in Ibadan and across Oyo State.
It also works hand-in-hand with relevant stakeholders such as hospitality operators, traditional institutions, local governments, cultural groups, artists, artisans, investors, development partners and other stakeholders within the culture and tourism value chain.