Stakeholders in the culture and tourism industry have been charged to leverage on technology as a key factor to drive the economy of the State.

Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Hon. Sesan Fagbayi made this call at the maiden edition of quarterly stakeholder's   meeting for Hotels and Allied Businesses Owners at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, saying the world has advanced technologically, hence the need for business owners to leverage on technology for survival.

He noted that, the Prince Dapo Abiodun led administration was passionate about developing and preserving tourist sites and heritages across the state and had set up a robust long-term Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Public, Private Partnership in developing and projecting other tourist sites in the State, adding that the development and promotion of tourism should not be the responsibilities of government alone but a collective effort to develop the sector.

Hon. Fagbayi explained that, to have an easy and effective two way communication between the ministry and its stakeholders , the agency had  leveraged technology with the creation of an online platform, called "Online Platform  for Culture and Tourism Matters ( OPLACT), to allow  hitch-free business registration, renewal, data collection, online visibility for both the activities of the ministry and its' stakeholders as well as showcasing Ogun State Culture and Tourism potentials to the people across the country and the outside world.

In his reaction, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Yusuff Quudus, said the essence of the meeting was to liaise with stakeholders in the sector regularly, intimate them of happenings, laws, policies and opportunities as it affects their operations, get feedbacks from them as well as give participants opportunities to express their expectations and contribute their quota to the development of the sector in the state and vice versa.

Dr. Quudus added that, the State   government was working round the clock towards reviving tourists’ sites in the State, seeking for stakeholder’s collaboration so as to identify and involve them in the policy-making process. He solicited for their supports in the areas of payment of dues, levies and registration of their businesses.

The Director, Hotel and Allied Businesses, Mr. Michael Ogunbiyi, said the stakeholders meeting was targeted at building a robust relationship between the State Culture and Tourism ministry and stakeholders for collaboration, accessibility and feedback in order to have a robust relationship. He called synergy towards building a platform for renewed partnerships where stakeholders would contribute positively to the growth and development of culture and tourism sector.

Ogunbiyi disclosed that, the Ministry had adopted technology for hotels and allied business through the OPLACT that would enhance seamless registration of businesses and other vital information concerning the activities of the ministry and its stakeholders.

The President, Ogun Event Vendors, Mrs. Adebola Solate, on behalf of other participants, commended the ministry for the laudable initiative of the online platform which would enable Ogun State business owners enjoy seamless transactions and more recognitions.