Owu Waterfall, one of the many tourism destinations highlighted by participants during the Naija7wonders zoom conference organised by travel and tourism expert, Ikechi Uko to spotlight the numerous attractions in the country is set to get infrastructural upgrade.
The Waterfall, located in Owa Kajola in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria, is the highest waterfall in West Africa measuring 120m above the water level and cascades 330 feet down an escarpment, with rocky out crops to a pool of ice-cold water below.
According to Oyelola Ashiru, a Senator representing Kwara South Senatorial District, in a post on his twitter handle, when the upgrade and development is completed, Owu waterfall will take its place as the highest waterfall in West Africa not only by height, but by beautification, amenities and luxurious facilities that will be installed to attract crowds, generate funds and provide jobs for our youths.
He said: “During our campaign, part of my promises is to maximise the potentials of all the Tourist attraction sites within Kwara South Senatorial District in order to utilise our God given heritage for the benefit of wealth creation and development of rural communities. As promised, Tourism got a huge percentage of my legislative attention and I am glad the seed we planted is beginning to germinate.
“Kwara South Senatorial District is blessed with Tourist attractive sites numerous enough to transform the economy of a state. These sites include Owu waterfall in Ifelodun Local Government, Ero-Omola waterfall and Imobolaje rock shelter in Oke Ero Local Government, Esie Museum in Irepodun Local Government among many others.
“Our efforts to get Kwara South working for better began with a bill for the creation of a University of History and Archaeology Esie. This is a well thought initiative to immortalise the first museum in Nigeria containing the largest collection of soapstone in the world. The bill passed its first reading in March 2020 before the pandemic forced the closure of the National Assembly.
“When the University is founded, it will bring a Federal presence to Esie and neighbouring communities. Aside the wealth of historic education that will be impacted, it will provide employment and improved economic activities that will create indirect jobs for our youth and the general populace.
“Peculiar on our list of effort to revive our Tourism Industry is the upgrade and development of Owu water fall in Ifelodun Local Government. Before now, the precious edifice that is beautiful to behold has never received a state or federal presence. While this Tourist attraction site is enough to bring Ifelodun Local Government to the face of the world, past Governments have abandoned it to rot away.”
“When the upgrade and development is completed, Owu waterfall will take its place as the highest waterfall in West Africa not only by height, but by beautification, amenities and luxurious facilities that will be installed to attract crowds, generate funds and provide jobs for our youths.
“In line with our campaign promises, I have also initiated the construction of access road and upscaling of Ero-Omola waterfall in Oke-Ero Local Government. Before now, the route to the spectacular waterfall and it’s surrounding is bushy and not motorable. This has prevented tourist to having access to the water fall.
“When the access road construction and the upscaling are completed, Ero-Omola water fall will become a wonder in the wilderness. The beautiful site will become a location for picnics, resorts and movie production. Invariably, it will provide jobs and development to our community.
“While all these have happened in Tourism alone in a short while, I reaffirm my commitment to building a Senatorial District where everyone will be self-sufficient and shared prosperity will be guaranteed.
“As we earnestly wait for the completion of these projects before May 2021, ideas and innovations on how to further move our Tourist sites to the face of the world is welcome here online and in our various constituency offices. As I have always insisted, collective hands rescue mission.
“With all of our efforts put together, Kwara South will be better and brighter for me and you.”
