The Ogun State Government has entered into a landmark partnership with Nike Art Gallery to establish a permanent art exhibition space at the historic Olumo Rock Tourist Centre, Governor Dapo Abiodun announced on Wednesday.
Speaking at his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, while hosting Chief (Mrs) Nike Davies-Okundaye, founder of Nike Art Gallery, Governor Abiodun said the initiative is aimed at revitalizing the state’s tourism sector and increasing annual visits to Olumo Rock from the current 20,000 to over 100,000.
“I went to Olumo Rock about a month ago and decided that we needed to restore it to its old glory,” the governor stated. “We’re targeting at least a tenfold increase in tourist numbers.”
As part of the plan, an underused events hall at the Olumo Rock complex will be repurposed into a world-class gallery to be curated and operated by Nike Art Gallery. The transformation is scheduled for completion before the National Sports Festival in May, which Ogun is hosting and expecting to draw around 15,000 visitors.
“I told them to shut it down. We want to bring it down and turn it into a gallery for you,” the governor told Davies-Okundaye.
Abiodun said the new gallery will serve as a cultural showcase during the sports festival and beyond, alongside other heritage sites including the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, the Ransome-Kuti family home, and the Adire market.
Highlighting Ogun’s growing accessibility, he noted that the state now offers multi-modal transportation options. “You can come to Ogun State by rail, by air, and very soon, by sea,” Abiodun said, referencing the recently constructed international airport and ongoing infrastructure projects.
In her remarks, Davies-Okundaye praised the state’s tourism vision and expressed optimism that the gallery would attract international dignitaries. “The one I opened in Abuja has hosted more than ten heads of state, including leaders from South Korea and the Czech Republic. The same will happen here,” she said.
She also commended the government’s support for the Adire textile industry. “Adire is all over Nigeria, but Ogun has been promoting it for over 50 years. Today, the only cloth we can call our own is Adire,” she said.
Governor Abiodun reaffirmed this commitment, citing policies such as the Adire Ogun Digital Marketplace, mandatory wearing of Adire on Fridays, and the distribution of solar-powered equipment to artisans.
He also announced a new creative arts and entertainment village being developed in collaboration with theatre producer Bolanle Austen-Peters, which he said would be completed within two months.
“Ogun is becoming a cultural and creative hub,” Abiodun concluded. “This partnership with Nike Art Gallery is another step toward showcasing our heritage and unlocking the full potential of our tourism economy.”