By Lukman Omikunle
Nigeria’s second storey building built in Ota, Ogun State has finally been renovated after years of neglect by previous governments.
The renovation was facilitated via selfless efforts of a revered Ota Prince and Chairman Ado-Odo/Ota LG Tourism Committee, Femi Fadina, who got prompt responses from the Federal and Ogun State Governments to bring back to life the tourism hidden treasure in the heart of Ota, the cradle of Aworiland.
The construction of the building, rooted in the premises of Ota St James Cathedral, began in 1841 and was completed in 1842 – a hundred and seventy-eight years ago.
It was wholly constructed by the first Reverend of the Cathedral, Reverend Hinderer.
Nigeria’s foremost Bishop and Christian icon, Samuel Ajayi Crowther, Became the 4th Reverend of the Cathedral in 1864.
The building holds the record of where the translation of the Bible from the English language to the Yoruba language began.
Ajayi Crowther and his team arrived Ota from Badagary on a missionary assignment as an Evangelical ministry with an effective strategy of translating Bible into native language – It was indeed effective as many natives were converted.
However, the iconic building which has not gotten government attention in decades was eventually renovated by the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun.
Newsheadline247 understands that Prince Fadina, through conscientious support from the State Deputy Governor Noimot Salako-Oyedele got the attention of the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mrs. M Ogunremi to drive home the need to revamp the ‘treasured’ tourism destination.
Also, the state Commissioner of Culture and Tourism, Dr. Oluwatoyin Taiwo, in swift response to the urgent need for the resuscitating of the historical building visited the site and ensured it was aptly renovated.
Fadina told newsheadline247 that the renovated tour destination was parts of Governor Abiodun’s efforts to revamp all tourism centers across the state to boost internally generated revenue by attracting the world to the state tour destinations.
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