Since the creation of Oyo State on 3 February 1976, the Ministry that oversees culture and tourism has undergone various nomenclature changes. It has been known as the Ministry of Information, Youths, Sports and Culture, the Ministry of Information and Culture, and the Ministry of Information Culture and Tourism. 

On 23 October 2023, His Excellency Seyi Makinde FNSE signed Executive Order No 002 of 2023, decoupling the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism and creating the Ministry of Culture and Tourism as a standalone agency “pursuance of the economic growth, cultural preservation, destination branding and sustainable development of Oyo State.”

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism oversees two agencies:

1. Oyo State Council for Arts and Culture 
2. Oyo State Tourism Board

The Oyo State Council for Arts and Culture agency was established by Edict No. 14 of 1977, amended to Edict No. 7 of 1990 (now Act of Parliament) to foster, preserve, record, document and propagate the cherished Arts and Culture and their Allied matters of Oyo State. The Oyo State Tourism and Hospitality Bill was passed into law in November 2020, leading to the repeal of the Oyo State Tourism Board Law of 2000. 

With the creation of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the two agencies have come under the direct supervision of a Commissioner.  

Vision

To create opportunities to sustainably raise Oyo State IGR by harnessing the State’s culture and tourism potential.

Our Mission

To leverage the low-hanging fruits available across Oyo State’s culture and tourism landscape to facilitate economic development by promoting the arts, cultural events, tourist activities and other engagements and create an enabling environment for tourism to thrive in Oyo State.

Our Mandate

Based on enabling laws, the functions of the Oyo State Ministry of Culture and Tourism include to:

1. publicise and organise tours for international and national visitors to the State;
2. ensure adequate promotion of the cultural heritage and practices of the people of the State;
3. acquaint itself with and preserve any artistic artefact, cultural artefact and monuments in the State;
4. advise the Government in the acquisition and preservation of any artistic artefact, cultural artefact and monuments in the State;
5. accept, hold and administer any subscription, gift or property for any purpose connected to arts and culture;
6. promote and encourage positively, the attitude of the people towards tourism and improvement of cultural heritage generally;
7. boost and improve income generation prospects of the State through tourism;
8. establish a coordinated information system in collaboration with the Federal Government, other States and other relevant organisations to collect and disseminate data for tourism centres in the Federation and International Communities;
9. monitor the activities of parastatals under its supervision and
10. carry out any other duty that may be necessary for the implementation of its strategic goals and objectives.