Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has described Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka and the legendary novelist, late D. O. Fagunwa as pride of the Yoruba race.
He said the people are lucky to have the duo whose literary works have projected the image of the Yoruba people to the global audience.
Akeredolu said the state is particularly proud that the forest of a thousand demons, which was popularised by the late Fagunwa in his popular novel “Oboju ode ninu igbo irunmole,” and translated to English by Soyinka as “The forest of a thosand demons” exists in the state.
While receiving members of the Fagunwa Study Group (FSG) , led by Prof. Tunde Babawale on a courtesy visit to his office in Alagbaka, Akure, he said the state is ready to welcome Soyinka for the FSG International Conference, billed to hold in Akure, the state capital.
The Governor said the state government is ready to give total support to any individual or corporate bodies interested in turning the Igbo eledumare at Okeigbo into a tourist site.
He said the tourist site will not only boost the economy of the state but also keep the work of the late author alive for future generation.
Earlier, Babawale thanked the governor for always assisting the group especially with the recent launch of a compilation of books written by the late author, Fagunwa who hails from Okeigbo in Ondo state.
He disclosed to the governor the plans for the four day international conference that will attract dignitaries across the world.
