Four years on, Ondo moves to immortalise TB Joshua

By Boye Oyeyemi –

The Ondo State Government has announced plans to collaborate with the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) to build a monument in honour of the late Prophet T.B. Joshua, four years after his passing.

Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa disclosed this while receiving members of the Nigeria Association of Tour Operators (NATOP), who visited him in Akure after their Annual General Meeting and tour of tourist sites in the state.

Responding to calls for monuments to celebrate notable Ondo indigenes, Aiyedatiwa said the state was rich in cultural and religious tourism assets and expressed readiness to explore partnerships with religious institutions to promote legacy projects.

The governor noted that apart from T.B. Joshua, Ondo State is home to other influential religious founders, including those of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church and Zion Church. He said the government would work with their respective institutions to preserve their heritage.

Aiyedatiwa emphasized the global recognition T.B. Joshua received, stating, “He was known across the world. I represented the state at his burial and saw how widely he impacted lives through his ministry.”

He added that while SCOAN would take the lead on the project, the state would provide support, particularly in promoting Arigidi-Akoko—Joshua’s hometown—as a religious tourism hub.

“This initiative will attract followers and tourists beyond the Synagogue in Lagos. Arigidi-Akoko can become a destination for those who want to trace the prophet’s roots,” the governor said.

He confirmed that the incoming commissioner for culture and tourism would be tasked with facilitating this project as part of plans to develop Ondo’s tourism sector.