I will not fail the nation.- Sally Mbanefo , NTDC DG
We at the NTDC have our work cut out for us. But we cannot achieve anything without the support
of all the stakeholders at home and abroad.
We will engage frequently with each stakeholder group to clarify or revise our perception of your
issues and expectations on an ongoing basis through fora like this. We therefore make a passionate
appeal for your help as we embark on this bold and persistent experimentation in the service of our
most important stakeholder: The Nigerian Citizen at home and in the Diaspora!
Our strategy begins and ends with the Nigerian Citizen and you can therefore understand our focus
on Domestic Tourism as the cornerstone for building a sustainable Tourism Industry that will attract
foreign tourists and investors. We are not wedded to our ideas and are therefore open to any idea
that works better for Nigerians!
We will be counting on the National Assembly's usual help with our budgeting and legal reforms as
we send proposals for your wise counsel and approval. We thank the CBN for its support so far and
will be engaging more frequently to see how we can work together to de-risk the Tourism Value
Chain for cheaper access to long term funds to create jobs for the Nigerian people as you have done
in Agriculture.
We will also be counting on the World Bank, Africa Development Bank, IFC, EU, DFID and the AFC for
seeding our Tourism Development Fund and grants to support our Institutional Rebuilding efforts
and Infrastructure Development under the policy direction of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture.
We appeal to the Ministry of Aviation, the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Security Agencies to
continue their kind support in creating a fascinating user experience for all tourists at the entry
points.
We will also engage closely with these MDA's to evolve a better working relationship and key into
their change programs.
We also will be counting on our Media Partners to follow their professional ethics in covering the
industry and the NTDC- we have an open door policy and will be sharing information to enable you
contribute your quota.
Nollywood is now a global brand and has carried Nigeria to the world, we need you tell
our stories with our almost 500 sites and attractions. We know the Hon. Minister has
worked tirelessly to make financing work better for your industry. Similarly you will
have access to the Tourism Fund through the Marketing and Research Window.
CALL TO ACTION FOR STAKEHOLDERS
We have started collaborating with the states who own the Tourist Sites and Attractions to see how
we can work better on improving the marketing and funding for renovating existing sites and
developing new ones. In this vein, I plan to commence site familiarization visits to all the geo-political
zones starting with Taraba State in the North-East so we can start showcasing Nigeria's Tourism assets
and potentials while taking stock of the challenges.
Finally, we want to make a passionate appeal to the Nigerian Citizen who understandably has
become skeptical about any attempt at making things work better. We need you to understand that
we are privileged to be in public service to serve you and make things better. Always have it in mind
that it is easier to be critical than to be correct. Please give Nigeria a second chance!
So please help us keep the environment clean, do not cut trees indiscriminately, demand your rights
at every service point including ours but always remember your obligations not to violate the right
of others irrespective of your differences and continue being warm to visitors local or foreign as all
our cultures and faith advocate.
We know you have waited too long for things to get better; channel your agitations into creative
and constructive criticism of how we can make the nation better for the next generation. You will
readily agree with me that we can only call this Brand 'Fascinating Nigeria' mainly because of
fascinating Nigerians you find in every Village, Town and City in our Nation.
From the caring Mother who re-invents a traditional meal to keep her family nourished, to the
dedicated Teachers and Youth Corps Members who serve in a rural community imparting
knowledge, to the Policeman or Soldier putting himself in harms-way to make our country safer or
the Community Leader who galvanizes people to make the Village more self-policing and the
Researcher working to improve seedlings of our basic staples to eradicate hunger and poverty up to
the Tour Guide showcasing our attractions to the Tourist or the Diaspora Professional remitting
monies to take care of his siblings and aged parents back home and to the Nollywood Film Producer
or Musician making new creative works that endear the world to Nigeria- we have over a 160 million
fascinating Nigerians that give me hope for a new Nigeria!
God bless Nigeria and thank you for your kind attention!
Excerpts from an address delivered by Mrs Mbanefo , the new Director General NTDC at a stakeholder meeting she conveyed for those in the tourism sector.
I will not fail the nation.- Sally Mbanefo , NTDC DGWe at the NTDC have our work cut out for us. But we cannot achieve anything without the support
of all the stakeholders at home and abroad.
We will engage frequently with each stakeholder group to clarify or revise our perception of your
issues and expectations on an ongoing basis through fora like this. We therefore make a passionate
appeal for your help as we embark on this bold and persistent experimentation in the service of our
most important stakeholder: The Nigerian Citizen at home and in the Diaspora!
Our strategy begins and ends with the Nigerian Citizen and you can therefore understand our focus
on Domestic Tourism as the cornerstone for building a sustainable Tourism Industry that will attract
foreign tourists and investors. We are not wedded to our ideas and are therefore open to any idea
that works better for Nigerians!
We will be counting on the National Assembly's usual help with our budgeting and legal reforms as
we send proposals for your wise counsel and approval. We thank the CBN for its support so far and
will be engaging more frequently to see how we can work together to de-risk the Tourism Value
Chain for cheaper access to long term funds to create jobs for the Nigerian people as you have done
in Agriculture.
We will also be counting on the World Bank, Africa Development Bank, IFC, EU, DFID and the AFC for
seeding our Tourism Development Fund and grants to support our Institutional Rebuilding efforts
and Infrastructure Development under the policy direction of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture.
We appeal to the Ministry of Aviation, the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Security Agencies to
continue their kind support in creating a fascinating user experience for all tourists at the entry
points.
We will also engage closely with these MDA's to evolve a better working relationship and key into
their change programs.
We also will be counting on our Media Partners to follow their professional ethics in covering the
industry and the NTDC- we have an open door policy and will be sharing information to enable you
contribute your quota.
Nollywood is now a global brand and has carried Nigeria to the world, we need you tell
our stories with our almost 500 sites and attractions. We know the Hon. Minister has
worked tirelessly to make financing work better for your industry. Similarly you will
have access to the Tourism Fund through the Marketing and Research Window.
CALL TO ACTION FOR STAKEHOLDERS
We have started collaborating with the states who own the Tourist Sites and Attractions to see how
we can work better on improving the marketing and funding for renovating existing sites and
developing new ones. In this vein, I plan to commence site familiarization visits to all the geo-political
zones starting with Taraba State in the North-East so we can start showcasing Nigeria's Tourism assets
and potentials while taking stock of the challenges.
Finally, we want to make a passionate appeal to the Nigerian Citizen who understandably has
become skeptical about any attempt at making things work better. We need you to understand that
we are privileged to be in public service to serve you and make things better. Always have it in mind
that it is easier to be critical than to be correct. Please give Nigeria a second chance!
So please help us keep the environment clean, do not cut trees indiscriminately, demand your rights
at every service point including ours but always remember your obligations not to violate the right
of others irrespective of your differences and continue being warm to visitors local or foreign as all
our cultures and faith advocate.
We know you have waited too long for things to get better; channel your agitations into creative
and constructive criticism of how we can make the nation better for the next generation. You will
readily agree with me that we can only call this Brand 'Fascinating Nigeria' mainly because of
fascinating Nigerians you find in every Village, Town and City in our Nation.
From the caring Mother who re-invents a traditional meal to keep her family nourished, to the
dedicated Teachers and Youth Corps Members who serve in a rural community imparting
knowledge, to the Policeman or Soldier putting himself in harms-way to make our country safer or
the Community Leader who galvanizes people to make the Village more self-policing and the
Researcher working to improve seedlings of our basic staples to eradicate hunger and poverty up to
the Tour Guide showcasing our attractions to the Tourist or the Diaspora Professional remitting
monies to take care of his siblings and aged parents back home and to the Nollywood Film Producer
or Musician making new creative works that endear the world to Nigeria- we have over a 160 million
fascinating Nigerians that give me hope for a new Nigeria!
God bless Nigeria and thank you for your kind attention!
Excerpts from an address delivered by Mrs Mbanefo , the new Director General NTDC at a stakeholder meeting she conveyed for those in the tourism sector.
