Arrangements have
been concluded by the Osun State government to host the 4th World
Summit of Mayors International Conference which kicks off in Osogbo the
state capital on Friday.
The Chairman Local
Organising Committee of the conference, Siyan Oyeweso, disclosed at a
press conference in Osogbo that President Goodluck Jonathan is expected
as the Special Guest of honour at the conference while the former
governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu is the chairman of the occasion.
Mr Oyeweso said
Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka will deliver a key note address at the
conference which has “Global Engagement of Local Leadership for
Universal Progress” as its theme.
He disclosed that
the conference will be the first of its kind to be hosted by any
African country and said the objectives of the conference is to foster
good governance at the grassroots and international integration.
According to Mr
Oyeweso, the conference will focus majorly on local government
administration in the country, pointing out that the Association of
Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) has signified intention to
collaborate with the state government to organise the conference.
He added that the
state government is partnering with the United States National
Conference of Black Mayors and the World Conference of Mayors for the
conference.
According to Mr Oyeweso, academics, activists and politicians will deliver papers at the conference.
Tourism
Mr Oyeweso stated
that the visiting Mayors will visit the Obafemi Awolowo University,
Ile-Ife; Osun State University, Osogbo; the Osun Osogbo sacred groove;
Osogbo, Kiriji war site; Igbajo, Olumirin water fall; Erin-Ijesha and
other prominent tourist centres in the state.
Others expected at
the seven-day conference are: the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde
Fashola; Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko; Edo State Governor,
Adams Oshiomole and Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi.
The former governor of the state, Olagunsoye Oyinlola had organised
the summit but could not hold due to the judgment of the Court of
Appeal which nullified his election in November last year.
