Valentine’s Day: Oyo Gov’t Registers 12,128 Hospitality Ventures

Ahead of the 2025 celebration of Valentine’s Day, the Oyo State government has revealed that it has registered 12,128 hospitality ventures to ensure proper monitoring and coordination during the festivities. This move is part of preparations for the “Valentine Cruise” event, which is set to take place on Friday, February 14, 2025.

Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, made the announcement during a press conference at the Eleyele Waterfront in Ibadan. He noted that the number of registered hospitality businesses has increased significantly from 1,328 in December 2019 to 12,128 in 2025. This growth, he said, is a result of the favorable environment created for investors by the administration of Governor ‘Seyi Makinde.

The registered businesses include hotels, nightclubs, event centers, eateries/restaurants, and tour operators. Olatunbosun emphasized that this expansion has been instrumental in attracting more tourists to the state. “We’ve seen a substantial increase in tourist visits, with 18,152 tourists visiting daily, compared to just 1,604 before Governor Makinde’s administration.”

Regarding the Valentine’s Day event, Olatunbosun stated that it would foster peace, love, friendship, and tolerance among the people, while also promoting aquatic tourism and boosting the state’s economy. The event is part of a broader initiative to enhance the tourism and hospitality sectors in the state.

He also highlighted impressive growth in the state’s hospitality sector under the current administration. “Before 2019, Oyo State had 945 registered hotels, but now we have 4,678. In 2019, there were only 78 nightclubs, but today we have 1,898—an increase of over 2,300%. Similarly, the number of registered event centers has grown from 143 to 1,996, and eateries have increased from 62 to 1,852,” Olatunbosun said.

Overall, Oyo State now has a total of 12,128 registered hospitality ventures, marking a 10,800 increase in just a few years. This growth is credited to the conducive environment for business created by the Makinde-led government, which has supported the expansion of tourism and hospitality sectors.

The commissioner also emphasized that tourism’s success in the state is tied to key factors such as security, infrastructure, and political will, all of which have been strengthened under the current administration.

Dr. Sanni Bamidele, the Chief Executive Officer of Royal Entertainment Cruise, praised Governor Makinde’s commitment to promoting culture and tourism in Oyo State. He also assured participants in the Valentine’s Day event that adequate security and safety measures would be in place to ensure a successful and safe celebration.

In conclusion, Olatunbosun invited residents to join the first-ever Ibadan Valentine Cruise and celebrate love, tourism, and unity in the state, which has become an increasingly important hub for tourism in the region.