A bill for the Establishment of the Institute of Culture & Tourism, Oke-Igbo, Ondo State, has been read for the first time at the Senate on Tuesday.

The bill was sponsored by Senator Nicholas Tofowomo representing Ondo South Senatorial District on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

According to the Senator, in a chat with Starnews Nigeria correspondent on Tuesday, “Tourism activities capture a considerable high percentage of GDP for many countries; hence I decided to present a bill for the establishment of the Institute of Culture and Tourism to improve sustainability in the tourism industry of Nigeria and generate revenues through it”.

“I chose Oke-Igbo town in Ileojuji/Okeigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State as the site of the Institute to honour late Chief Daniel Orowole Olorunfẹmi Fagunwa popularly known as D. O. Fagunwa, who hails from Oke-Igbo town and pioneered the Yoruba-language novel in Nigeria”.

“The late Fagunwa wrote his first novel in the bush which centred on the people’s cultures and also on folk tale traditions, including the story of supernatural beings and elements such as demons, witches, wizards, among others. To date, Late Fagunwa remains the most widely read Yoruba Language Author who has also influenced other African Authors to write novels in their monther’s languages.

“His books did not just keep the culture and tradition of the African nation alive by influencing other Authors but has also kept the African languages alive which would have gone into extinction because of the adoption of English as an official language by many African countries,” Senator Tofowomo said.