Conference of Mayors: Waiting for KSA, Stevie Wonder in Osogbo

 KSA and Obey
There is the strong possibility that juju superstar, King Sunny Ade, and American music legend, Stevie Wonder, will perform together at the World Conference of Mayors holding in Osogbo in December.

The Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Prof. Muheeb Opeloyeru, gave the indication in Lagos on Wednesday, where the committee held a meeting with the management of telecom giant, Globacom Communication, which is expected to come on board as a major sponsor of the conference.

According to Opeloyeru, while KSA, who was the ambassador for the Global Conference of Black Nationalities held in Osogbo about two months ago, is being retained for the same role, Wonder has been invited to also entertain guests and hosts at the event where some 250 mayors will gather to discuss various aspects of development.

”We have made adequate preparations towards making the all important guests very comfortable in the course of their stay in Osun State and Nigeria in general,” he says. ”The experience that we gathered from hosting the Black Nationalities Conference is proving very useful now. It is what Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola foresaw when he decided to retain the same committee that prepared grounds for, and oversaw the earlier conference.”

He adds that in terms of security, necessary steps have been taken both at the state and national levels. According to him, the presidency is fully involved in the preparation. On the challenge that accommodating the participants and other guests may spur, Opeloyeru notes that there are enough decent hotels in Osogbo and other surrounding towns that include Ilesa and Ife.

On the benefits of the conference to the state, he said, ”Already, the world is aware of the existence of a state called Osun. When investors are looking for where to go, we are definitely one of the first they will come to.

The mayors who are coming will have first hand information about the opportunities that exist in different sectors. Tourism will particularly benefit a lot.

There will be an exhibition of art and craft works and other related aspects of our people‘s heritage. So, the people are going to benefit a lot.”

Opeloyeru adds that there is a also a medical mission component of the conference as the visitors will visit rural areas for free medical services.

Apart from Steve Wonder, he notes, the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation will also be in attendance, while President Barrack Obama is expected to make a telly-broadcast.

Source:http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art2010110704882