Abeokuta – The Ogun State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Sesan Fagbayi, on Friday announced the concession of the renovated Olumo Rock Tourist Centre to Whatadeal Africa, a move aimed at ensuring better management, boosting revenue, and repositioning the ancient site as a foremost global tourism destination.
Speaking at the Olumo Rock Tourist Site after signing the concession agreement with the Managing Director of Whatadeal Africa, Fela Bank-Olemoh, Fagbayi said the handover of the tourist centre to the travel and tours company “was born out of the present administration’s commitment to leveraging public-private partnerships to drive economic prosperity, infrastructure upgrades and improved social well-being for residents of the state.”
He added, “You will recall that the administration of His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, recently embarked on the massive renovation of Olumo Rock and upgraded its facilities to make the site more attractive to tourists. Before the extensive renovation, which was completed around July, the state was generating less than N50m to N60m annually from the site. Now that the government has put structures in place to make Olumo Rock more attractive and beautiful, we felt it was necessary to hand it over to professionals with the capacity to manage it better, improve its global visibility and drive economic activities around it for our shared prosperity.”
Bank-Olemoh commended the Abiodun administration, stating, “We are bringing international standards into what we are doing here. Indigenous people will also be involved in running operations, and we will introduce various programmes to drive tourist traffic. Our ticketing platform is already operational. If the site previously recorded about 70,000 visitors annually, our goal is to double that figure. We are targeting over 150,000 tourists every year. We have been in this business for 30 years, and we are assuring the people of Ogun State and Nigeria that Olumo Rock will become the most visited tourist site in the country. When people plan trips to Africa, they will say they want to visit Olumo Rock. When you come to Nigeria, visiting Olumo Rock will be one of the must-do activities. We will also provide insurance coverage for all visitors, among other initiatives, to ensure a safe and memorable experience.”
Abiodun had inaugurated the newly renovated Olumo Rock Tourist Centre in July after it was shut down in April 2025. He disclosed that the tourist centre was officially opened for business and would be free to all members of the public for two months.
The centre now comprises a galleria showcasing artworks of eminent Nigerians, a gazebo, a restaurant serving both local and continental dishes, shops selling adire fabrics, and a standby generator to power newly installed elevators and other facilities. One unique addition is the introduction of ticketing, both online and onsite.
Speaking at the event, Abiodun said, “We invite you to come and experience Olumo Rock free of charge. Come see and be inspired by the origins of Olumo Rock.” He noted that the innovation would boost local commerce, empower youth, and help build a thriving cultural and creative economy.
According to the Journal of Tourism and Heritage Studies (2024), Nigeria’s tourism sector is rich in cultural and natural resources but remains largely underdeveloped due to challenges such as insecurity, poor infrastructure, inconsistent government policies and inadequate service quality. These factors have limited the sector’s contribution to GDP and hindered economic diversification efforts.
