Canada’s Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Marcello Di Franco, has stated the readiness of the country to partner with Osun State in the areas of education and tourism.

Di Franco, who spoke at the Governor’s Office, Osogbo, commended Governor Rauf Aregbesola for providing quality education and investment in tourism.

A statement by the Bureau of Communication and Strategy, on Monday, quoted Di Franco as saying that Canada was ready to partner with Osun in order to engender development.

Commending the tourism potentials of Osun, Di Franco said, “When I came into your state, I had the opportunity to visit some special places, including the Osun groove and I can see that what you have in the state are so precious.

“They are things that the international community will want to learn about. We will be interested in coming to this state as tourists to get to know the culture and more about your state.”

The deputy high commissioner noted that Osun stood to gain immensely in education and tourism partnership with Canada, noting that education has improved in the state under Aregbesola.

He added that seminars would be organized to improve the standard of education in Osun, stressing that quality education remained a gateway to socio-economic development.

Describing Osun as the safest state in Nigeria, Aregbesola enjoined local and foreign investors to explore investment opportunities available in the state.

He said collaboration can work optimally in a safe and secure environment.

The governor said, “I am proud to tell you that this is the safest part of Nigeria, you can count on the safety and the security that we guarantee to encourage your citizens to visit us and see our natural endowment, this is a rain forest region.

“It is not for fun that UNESCO recognizes Osun groove as a world heritage site. That is not all we have here, the state is unique for the variety of customary and traditional sites of note. Osun is the heartland of the Yoruba.”