Oil stunted tourism growth in Nigeria - Anyaoku
Written by Wale Ojo-Lanre Wednesday, 20 November 2013 00:00
Nigerian Tribune
THE undue concentration on the oil sector has been described as a curse and impediment to the sprouting and germination of the tourism economy in Nigeria.
Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary-General , Commonwealth, made this observation at the Grand Hotel, Asaba last week Wednesday during the launching of “Tourism in Nigeria: The incredible journey into the heart of nature,” a book written by Mrs Fidelia Salami.
Chief Anyaoku, who was the chairperson of the event, lamented that despite the fact that Nigeria is blessed abundantly with all manners of tourism potentialities, it is sad that the sector has not been able to gain the necessary attention from the government .
He pointed out that successive government in the country had turned the luck of having oil within our shores into a curse rather than a blessing.
Chief Anyaoku said that there was nothing wrong in the government paying more attention to, and developing fully, the oil sector. Rather, it is a sin for the government to have refused to utilise the proceeds from oil in developing other sectors of the economy.
With oil in our backyard spinning the money, Chief Anyaoku believes that the money should have been expended on alternatives revenue sources, importantly the tourism sector which stokes the economy every second.
Chief Anyaoku described tourism as an inestimable economic asset waiting to be tapped for benefit of the people of Nigeria. He commended Mrs Salami for documenting some of the pristine and wonderful tourism assets of Nigeria in a breakfast book which will go a long way in emphasising the point and reminding whoever that comes across it about the Nigerian tourism potentialities.
Chief Anyaoku said the book , Tourism in Nigeria, is one of the best documents he had seen and read, which informed his writing a pre-publication commendation in the book. He also recommended the book to everyone who wants to have a deal with tourism in Nigeria.
He described the book as “a brilliant bird’s- eye view of the rich tapestry of the culture and traditional occupations of a significant number of Nigeria’s people . It is, in the main, a carefully researched catalogue of the country’s major tourist attractions. The book is a must read not only by those wishing to visit and witness the captivating diversity of Nigeria, but also by Nigerians themselves who are interested in knowing the tourist sites and rich cultural traditions of their country. “
Chief Anyaoku called for the publication of more books and intellectual work on tourism by practitioners, students, planners and administrators so as to ingrain the tourism consciousness in the consciousness of the people.
Revealing what prompted her writing the book, Mrs Salami said “I want to achieve two broad objectives with the publication of this book. First, to showcase Nigeria to Nigerians that we have all it takes in joining other countries in becoming a big player in the global tourism business and in also telling the government that this sector can conveniently serve as alternative source or main source of revenue for the country . And most importantly, to show the cultural and historical linkages between the various ethnic groups to stimulate cultural understanding, appreciation and unity.
“Secondly, to tell and open the vastness of our attractions to the rest of the world as many people outside there never believed that Nigeria is blessed awesomely by God with wonderful tourism assets and sites. Having travelled so well over the world , I have not seen too many countries that have all its zones from West to East North to South so freely blessed with natural attractions, historical sites and monuments, rich flora and fauna , cultural heritage, sun and sea. I believe that all these need proper packaging and documentation which can stimulate investors’ interest and attract tourists.
And to God be the glory, here we are launching the book.”
Mrs Salami disclosed that “ It took 12 years of intensive research and travelling to most of the sites mentioned in the book for a firsthand experience and information gathering . What you have in there is a complete reality of what I encountered which I am recommending to others so as to be able to evaluate and appreciate the enormous tourism potentialities in Nigeria.Though the book tasked my resources , comfort and patience , I give glory to God for being able to christen it today .“
“And I am happy to have published a book which provides objective information on Nigeria and the reality of its tourism growth, its national policies and recent development and growth. It is also a valuable resource and comprehensive guide for the education and entertainment of students, teachers, tourists and investors.
I am happy to have produced a tourism encyclopaedia about a nation poised to take its destiny in its hand.“
Reviewing the book, Mr Tayo Adelaja , who represented the President Guild of Tourism Journalists in Nigeria , Comrade Wale Ojo Lanre, described the book as “a painstakingly researched Nigeria tourism document which does not only bring out the hidden tourism potentialities of the nation, but supplies copious information and materials needed by investors, tourists and stakeholders who need such about Nigerian tourism. It a book which every tourism-minded fellow must have.
Mbanefo takes domestic tourism promotion to Gani Adams•Visits Calabar, Kaduna, Yenagoa
Written by Wale Ojo-Lanre Wednesday, 27 November 2013 00:00
Nigerian Tribune
Chief Gani Adams (left) presenting some of his books to Mrs Sally Mbanefo, Director-General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC)IN her determination at ensuring that domestic tourism thrives andgrows in Nigeria for the benefit of the people and the country, Mrs. Sally Uwechue - Mbanefo, Director-General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), has continued to intensify her campaign, proving to all that a new dawn of genuine transformation has come to the sector.
Mrs. Mbanefo has been consistent in living up to her promise of not only building on the progress made in the sector, but taking it beyond the pessimistic imagination of those who believe that tourism in Nigeria cannot go beyond the prism of a man’s projection.
The Director General, who has let her experience in the private sector rub on the administration of NTDC, has steered clear of the system of the past when tourism chiefs would publicly announce, christen and widely publicise lofty policies and programmes, only for the beauty to end there that day, without any follow up.
Instead, Mrs Mbanefo has been faithful to all her testament of performance as documented in the blueprint she presented to tourism stakeholders in a public interactive forum she held in Lagos two months after resuming at her duty post.
After putting NTDC in shape to conform to the new vision of domestic tourism , Mrs Uwecheu-Mbanefo has commenced a tour of the country for first-hand contact with tourism sites and assets for proper evaluation and positioning.
According to her vision, Nigeria must grow domestic tourism in a way that Nigerians themselves will imbibe the culture of visiting and appreciating their own sites, before confidently inviting others to come and see the hidden treasures in the country.
Mrs Uwecheu- Mbanefo who promised to develop a tourism site in each of the six geo-political zones of the country, has visited Kaduna, Calabar and Yenagoa in Baylesa State where she conducted a tour of some sites and held fruitful discussions with governors of the states, selling her domestic tourism vision and acquainting them with the task ahead.
At Calabar, her visit coincided with the Super Eagles match with the visiting Ethiopia and she joined others to cheer the Eagles to victory and explored the event by preaching her domestic tourism vision to both the Eagles and the Ethiopian team.
The Ethiopian team was excited by Mrs Uwechue-Mbanefo’s manner of delivery and exposition of the numerous wonderful tourism wonders in Nigeria, which led her to signing autographs after they took pictures with her .
And this was sequel to her earlier prediction of a two-goal victory for the Eagles, which came to pass. The NTDC was the only Federal Government parastatal which gave a rousing welcome to the Eagles when they flew to the Abuja Airport.
The Calabar tour and the visit to Tinapa Trade Free Zone doubly confirmed to Mrs Uwecheu-Mbanefo that domestic tourism does not only have the potential of growth and economic reality but has come to stay.
With the successful domestic tourism evangelisation to Calabar, Kaduna, Yenogoa, visiting sites and government officials, Mrs Uwecheu-Mbanefo, in ensuring that her vision of domestic tourism was understood and embraced by all, paid a visit to the chief promoter of Olokun Festival Foundation, Otunba Gani Adams.
Mrs. Uwecheu-Mbanefo stormed the Ilupeju office of the Olokun Festival Foundation in Lagos on Saturday 23 November clad in a green-white-green skirt and adire blouse at 11 am.
The DG NTDC revealed that her visit to Otunba Adam’s office was to show appreciation and commend him for his efforts and that of his foundation in promoting domestic tourism by financing and organising festivals and cultural shows which emphasise those things that bind us together as a nation.
“I am here to show that my inability to attend the Olokun Festival held in Suntan Beach, Badagry, was not out of contempt but due to a national assignment which left no spare time for me,” she said. Mrs. Uwecheu-Mbanefo revealed that she had been monitoring the cultural activities of Otunba Adams with particular interest with the Olokun, Oya, Okota and other festivals long before her appointment as the Director-General, NTDC and had seen great economic potentialities if these festivals and foundation could be branded, packaged and aligned in tune with national aspirations.
“I have studied your enthusiasm and analysed your zeal in projecting and promoting the cultural heritage of our people in serving the nation’s tourism vision and I realised the import of the mass movement of your members on the economy of a given area of celebration.
This is domestic tourism at its best.”
Mrs Uwecheu-Mbanefo disclosed that the NTDC would not only support the cultural activities of the Olokun Foundation but form a strategic partnership for the advancement and promotion of domestic tourism.
“You are one of the great cultural icons in Nigeria. I am particularly happy that you are using all these festivals to stoke the embers of domestic tourism and stabilise the country by diverting restive energies into cultural activities which rejuvenate, resuscitate and revitalizse our culture and value for international appreciation.”
Mrs Sally Mbanefo, Director-General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) (middle) with members of staff of the corporation in Calabar, last weekOtunba Adams, in his response, said he was surprised at her visit, bearing in mind that she is not the first and the only NTDC DG which the country had produced.
“I have to commend you for this rare honour and privilege of appreciating the little we have been able to do and are doing to earn cultural identity for Africa. Since we commenced the cultural revolution to stimulate love, peace and harmonious relationship, you are the first Director -General of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation who showed a deep understanding of what is expected of them in that post.”
Otunba Adams pointed out that “Tourism promotion and marketing is not only about making noise or paparazzi; it is about mobilising the stakeholders, which you have successfully done; networking with members of the private sector, which you have done, and mobilising and lifting the morale of diligent practitioners and cultural promoters, which is what brought you here.”
Otunba Adams added: “ I have no doubt that you are going to succeed more than your predecessors going by your display of native intelligence, brilliance, robust sense of responsibility and commitment to a national call, as showcased by your activities in the last five months.
You have clearly demonstrated to all that your appointment by President Goodluck Jonathan was” apt, appropriate and fit.
“It is amazing that within the last five months, you have been able to set a clear vision for the tourism sector with your domestic tourism; held meetings with stakeholders, addressed players in the aviation industry; signed various worthy and necessary MOUs; visited many tourism sites for authentication of the state of facilities and combing all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria, telling Nigerians why they should embrace Nigeria’s domestic tourism assets .To cap it all, was your profound performance at the World Travel Markets in London. All are testimonies and attestations that you are going to launch domestic tourism in the hearts of the people rather on the winds of time like some of your predecessors. We assure you of our support, advice and cooperation at all times.’ — with Remi Oladoye and 36 others.
Written by Wale Ojo-Lanre Wednesday, 27 November 2013 00:00
Nigerian Tribune
Chief Gani Adams (left) presenting some of his books to Mrs Sally Mbanefo, Director-General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC)IN her determination at ensuring that domestic tourism thrives andgrows in Nigeria for the benefit of the people and the country, Mrs. Sally Uwechue - Mbanefo, Director-General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), has continued to intensify her campaign, proving to all that a new dawn of genuine transformation has come to the sector.
Mrs. Mbanefo has been consistent in living up to her promise of not only building on the progress made in the sector, but taking it beyond the pessimistic imagination of those who believe that tourism in Nigeria cannot go beyond the prism of a man’s projection.
The Director General, who has let her experience in the private sector rub on the administration of NTDC, has steered clear of the system of the past when tourism chiefs would publicly announce, christen and widely publicise lofty policies and programmes, only for the beauty to end there that day, without any follow up.
Instead, Mrs Mbanefo has been faithful to all her testament of performance as documented in the blueprint she presented to tourism stakeholders in a public interactive forum she held in Lagos two months after resuming at her duty post.
After putting NTDC in shape to conform to the new vision of domestic tourism , Mrs Uwecheu-Mbanefo has commenced a tour of the country for first-hand contact with tourism sites and assets for proper evaluation and positioning.
According to her vision, Nigeria must grow domestic tourism in a way that Nigerians themselves will imbibe the culture of visiting and appreciating their own sites, before confidently inviting others to come and see the hidden treasures in the country.
Mrs Uwecheu- Mbanefo who promised to develop a tourism site in each of the six geo-political zones of the country, has visited Kaduna, Calabar and Yenagoa in Baylesa State where she conducted a tour of some sites and held fruitful discussions with governors of the states, selling her domestic tourism vision and acquainting them with the task ahead.
At Calabar, her visit coincided with the Super Eagles match with the visiting Ethiopia and she joined others to cheer the Eagles to victory and explored the event by preaching her domestic tourism vision to both the Eagles and the Ethiopian team.
The Ethiopian team was excited by Mrs Uwechue-Mbanefo’s manner of delivery and exposition of the numerous wonderful tourism wonders in Nigeria, which led her to signing autographs after they took pictures with her .
And this was sequel to her earlier prediction of a two-goal victory for the Eagles, which came to pass. The NTDC was the only Federal Government parastatal which gave a rousing welcome to the Eagles when they flew to the Abuja Airport.
The Calabar tour and the visit to Tinapa Trade Free Zone doubly confirmed to Mrs Uwecheu-Mbanefo that domestic tourism does not only have the potential of growth and economic reality but has come to stay.
With the successful domestic tourism evangelisation to Calabar, Kaduna, Yenogoa, visiting sites and government officials, Mrs Uwecheu-Mbanefo, in ensuring that her vision of domestic tourism was understood and embraced by all, paid a visit to the chief promoter of Olokun Festival Foundation, Otunba Gani Adams.
Mrs. Uwecheu-Mbanefo stormed the Ilupeju office of the Olokun Festival Foundation in Lagos on Saturday 23 November clad in a green-white-green skirt and adire blouse at 11 am.
The DG NTDC revealed that her visit to Otunba Adam’s office was to show appreciation and commend him for his efforts and that of his foundation in promoting domestic tourism by financing and organising festivals and cultural shows which emphasise those things that bind us together as a nation.
“I am here to show that my inability to attend the Olokun Festival held in Suntan Beach, Badagry, was not out of contempt but due to a national assignment which left no spare time for me,” she said. Mrs. Uwecheu-Mbanefo revealed that she had been monitoring the cultural activities of Otunba Adams with particular interest with the Olokun, Oya, Okota and other festivals long before her appointment as the Director-General, NTDC and had seen great economic potentialities if these festivals and foundation could be branded, packaged and aligned in tune with national aspirations.
“I have studied your enthusiasm and analysed your zeal in projecting and promoting the cultural heritage of our people in serving the nation’s tourism vision and I realised the import of the mass movement of your members on the economy of a given area of celebration.
This is domestic tourism at its best.”
Mrs Uwecheu-Mbanefo disclosed that the NTDC would not only support the cultural activities of the Olokun Foundation but form a strategic partnership for the advancement and promotion of domestic tourism.
“You are one of the great cultural icons in Nigeria. I am particularly happy that you are using all these festivals to stoke the embers of domestic tourism and stabilise the country by diverting restive energies into cultural activities which rejuvenate, resuscitate and revitalizse our culture and value for international appreciation.”
Mrs Sally Mbanefo, Director-General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) (middle) with members of staff of the corporation in Calabar, last weekOtunba Adams, in his response, said he was surprised at her visit, bearing in mind that she is not the first and the only NTDC DG which the country had produced.
“I have to commend you for this rare honour and privilege of appreciating the little we have been able to do and are doing to earn cultural identity for Africa. Since we commenced the cultural revolution to stimulate love, peace and harmonious relationship, you are the first Director -General of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation who showed a deep understanding of what is expected of them in that post.”
Otunba Adams pointed out that “Tourism promotion and marketing is not only about making noise or paparazzi; it is about mobilising the stakeholders, which you have successfully done; networking with members of the private sector, which you have done, and mobilising and lifting the morale of diligent practitioners and cultural promoters, which is what brought you here.”
Otunba Adams added: “ I have no doubt that you are going to succeed more than your predecessors going by your display of native intelligence, brilliance, robust sense of responsibility and commitment to a national call, as showcased by your activities in the last five months.
You have clearly demonstrated to all that your appointment by President Goodluck Jonathan was” apt, appropriate and fit.
“It is amazing that within the last five months, you have been able to set a clear vision for the tourism sector with your domestic tourism; held meetings with stakeholders, addressed players in the aviation industry; signed various worthy and necessary MOUs; visited many tourism sites for authentication of the state of facilities and combing all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria, telling Nigerians why they should embrace Nigeria’s domestic tourism assets .To cap it all, was your profound performance at the World Travel Markets in London. All are testimonies and attestations that you are going to launch domestic tourism in the hearts of the people rather on the winds of time like some of your predecessors. We assure you of our support, advice and cooperation at all times.’ — with Remi Oladoye and 36 others.
