By Charles Abere.
The Oluyin of Iyin-Ekiti in Araromi Local Council Development Area (LCDA) Oba Adeniyi Ajakaye, has applauded the proposed plans by the British tourists to establish forestry and recreation park in the community.
Oba Ajakaiye gave the commendation while hosting Mr Ben Liewellyn-Jones, British Deputy High Commissioner in the British Commission, Lagos in his palace in Iyin-Ekiti
Welcoming the team led by the British Deputy Commissioner to his palace, the traditional ruler assured them of the readiness of his people to partner with the tourists to ensure the success of the project.
The monarch said he had planted 22,000 trees in the community, adding that residents are ready to key into the project that would beautify the community.
“I am fully aware of the intention of the British tourists to beautify our community with the proposed forestry park and I want to assure you of the readiness of our people to key into the project and give their total support to ensure its actualisation.
“The Chiefs and residents of Iyin-Ekiti are committed to the development of the town and are equally ready to cooperate with you, because the park will not only beautify our community, but will also serve as a source of income for the community and the land owners,”he said.
Ajakaiye noted that the British tourists and the state government officials would not collect the selected lands designed for the park from them, rather assured indigenes, whose lands are acquired that they will be duly compensated.
The traditional ruler particularly assured the youths that they would be recruited as tourist guards and no one that is not from the town would be recruited for the jobs to be created.
In his address of appreciation, the British Deputy High Commissioner, Mr Ben Liewellyn-Jones, thanked the traditional ruler, his chiefs and Indigenes of the town for their warm reception.
He assured the indigenes and chiefs who owned land in the proposed site for the park not be scared of losing their lands, noting that the major aim of the project was to plant their indigenous trees, nurtured it and designed it to form a beautiful park that would serve as source of income for the owners of the land.
Similarly, Dr Olly Owen, the Technical Adviser on Forestry to former Governor Kayode Fayemi, said the project has been designed to bring out the beauty and economy value of natural resources of the town.
Owen urged the chiefs and indigenes of Iyin-Ekiti not to panic because they are not coming to the community to take over their land or natural resources, but to add more value to it through their various reform plans.
In her remarks, the Nigeria Ambassador to Netherland, Dr Eniola Ajayi, who was an indigene of the town, expresses delight with the rapid development being experienced during the reign of the Oba Adeniyi Ajakaye.
Ajayi noted that forestry governance and tree planting which she started in 2013 when she was the Commissioner for Environment has began to yield positive development even in her hometown.
She urged the indigenes to cooperate with the tourists experts to transform the natural resources, indigenous trees to a park that would generate income for both the investors and owners of the land.
Dr Owen gave out lemon tree seedling to the traditional ruler, chiefs and notable indigenes of the community for tree planting.
The event, which was also attended by the wife of the Oluyin, Olori Okutoyin Ajakaiye, was cultural display by the palace troupe.
Prominent sons and daughters of the town were also in attendance to welcome the British commissioner and his entourage.