Oyo Govt Moves to Promote Adeyipo Research, Library Centre as Tourism Destination

Oyo Govt Moves to Promote Adeyipo Research, Library Centre as Tourism Destination

Ibadan, Feb. 2, 2026 — The Oyo State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to preserving and promoting African heritage with plans to showcase the Adeyipo Research and Library Centre as a key cultural and tourism asset in the state.

The Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun, gave the assurance while receiving the founder of the centre, renowned writer and scholar, Dr. Bayo Adebowale, during a courtesy visit to his office.

Dr. Olatubosun pledged that the ministry would, within its capacity, support and promote the centre, disclosing plans to personally visit the facility alongside members of the ministry’s management and media teams. He also announced that the ministry would organise a media tour of the centre to project it to a global audience.

According to the commissioner, the Adeyipo Research and Library Centre would be enlisted among tourist sites recommended for visitation in Oyo State. “I will tell the whole world to come, see and enjoy Adeyipo village,” he said.

Earlier, Dr. Adebowale explained that the visit was aimed at seeking partnership with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to further promote the centre, which he described as a rural community-based research and library facility housing over 150,000 volumes of books and magazines.

He noted that the centre serves no fewer than 300 villages and functions as a cultural hub, often used by film producers for movie shoots. According to him, the initiative was designed to make library services relevant at the grassroots while preserving a rich collection of African literature.

Dr. Adebowale added that the centre caters to both rural and urban dwellers by providing a conducive environment for learning, research and cultural exchange.

He further disclosed that the facility was commissioned during the tenure of the current Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, when he served as Governor of Oyo State. Since then, he said, four governors and several eminent personalities, including the late Dr. J.P. Clark and Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, have visited the centre. An enclave within the facility is named after Soyinka.

Dr. Adebowale also acknowledged the support of legal luminary, Aare Afe Babalola, noting that the centre grew from an initial 11,000 books at Ila-Orangun to its current collection of over 150,000 volumes. He added that the centre regularly hosts cultural troupes and masquerades that reflect Africa’s rich heritage.

At the end of the meeting, Dr. Adebowale presented his latest book, Up from the Cornerside, to the commissioner.