Oredola Adeola
The Nigerian Government and Lagos State Government have both agreed to finalise preparations to successfully host the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Global Conference on Tourism, Culture and the Creative Industries, scheduled to hold at the National Theatre, Lagos, between November 14 and 16, 2022.
This was made known on Thursday, when the Conference’s Planning Committee and Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, paid a courtesy visit to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The Committee used the occasion to congratulate the Lagos state government for being the host of the global conference. This according to the UNWTO team was because of the state’s premier role in tourism, culture and the creative.
Surprise Africa gathered that the Thursday meeting was aimed at soliciting the support of the Lagos State Government towards the successful hosting of the conference,
According to Alhaji Mohammed , while Nigeria is the host country of the inaugural edition of this global event, Lagos is the host city, which is very fitting, considering the premier role of the state in tourism, culture and the creative industries.
The Minister said Nigeria won the right to host this event in 2021, during the 64th meeting of the UNWTO Commission for Africa (CAF), held in Cape Verde.
He said, ''Granting Nigeria the hosting right is a recognition of the country's growing status, acknowledged globally, in culture, tourism and the creative industries - which comprise many sectors, including music, film, advertising, animation, architecture, design, gaming, gastronomy, performing arts, software and interactive games as well as radio and television.”
He further noted that the conference will bring together top executives of the UNWTO, Ministers of Tourism, Culture, Arts and the Creative Industries from the 166 member states of the organization, international and local stakeholders and the media, among others.
The Minister listed some of the socio-economic benefits that Nigeria will derive from the conference as showcasing Nigeria’s tourism, culture and creative assets; projecting Nigeria's image as a safe and desirable destination for leisure and business; consolidating on Nigeria’s relationship with the UNWTO and its member states, generating foreign exchange and creating direct and indirect jobs.
He said the conference will also highlight the restart of travel and tourism in a safe and seamless manner after the unprecedented impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, which resulted in a near collapse of the sector; foster interaction and exchange of ideas and best practices with key industry players; and create opportunities for the training of public and private sector tourism officials.
Alhaji Mohammed said the choice of the National Theatre, which is the hub of arts and entertainment in Nigeria, is most appropriate as the UNWTO conference will mark the return of the iconic edifice to its role, following the ongoing $100-million rehabilitation of the edifice, and the construction of hubs for music, film, fashion and IT by the Bankers Committee and the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“The FG specially recognized the role of the Lagos State Government in the ongoing restoration of the National Theatre to its former glory. The Lagos State Government is providing invaluable support in partnership with the proponents of the Lagos Creative and Entertainment Centre – the project conceived to refurbish the National Theatre and build a new community of facilities for the fashion, film, music and IT sectors,” he stated.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, in his remark, expressed the willingness of Lagos State Government to partner with the Federal Government to ensure the success of the UNWTO Conference through the provision of resources and manpower.
He said the state government has already keyed into the conference by dedicating November as the month of Arts and Culture, as it will be hosting the National Festival of Arts and Culture, unveiling the JK Randle African Museum and holding an International Art Exhibition, among other events, within the period.
Surprise Africa gathered that President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier in the year visited the headquarters of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in Madrid, Spain to express the readiness of Nigeria to host in November this year in a conducive environment.
The Nigerian Government had then described the granting of the hosting rights as ”further proof of Nigeria’s support for the vision of the organization and also an affirmation of the confidence reposed in our country by your organization.’’
Buhari noted that the event would provide yet another opportunity for the country to showcase its tourism and creative industry to the whole world.
“It will also serve as an opportunity to extend our warm hospitality to the world and introduce the country’s leisure and business sectors to potential investors. We have not-so-well-known wonders to reveal!”
President Buhari assured participants from across the world of “a safe and secure environment as well as excellent facilities,” adding, “we look forward to welcoming all participants.”
The President affirmed that the country had been consistent in supporting the organisation since joining in 1975, noting that Nigeria had also been elected Chairman of the Commission for Africa between 2005 and 2007.
The President used the opportunity to thank the Secretary General for granting 100 UNWTO Online Academy Scholarships on the ‘Introduction to Tourism-Industry Management’ stressing that this will further boost youth empowerment and education as well as address the manpower shortage in the tourism sector.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, whose ministry is facilitating the conference, said Nigeria was given the hosting rights at the 64th meeting of the UNWTO in Cape Verde in 2021, explaining that “our plan is to host the event in the iconic National Theatre in Lagos which is currently being massively refurbished for the first time since its commissioning some 46 years ago.
He added that since the announcement of the rights, preparations had started in earnest in conjunction with the UNWTO to ensure that Nigeria hosts a world-class event to justify the confidence reposed in the country by the organization.
The Minister emphasized that Nigeria intended to “leverage on the conference to showcase what makes Nigeria tick in culture, tourism, music, film, gastronomy, fashion, photography and why Nigeria has become a global leader in music and film, especially.”
Secretary General, UNWTO, Zurab Pololikashvili, had during the meeting described Nigeria as “a big country with huge resources in culture, nature and diversity”.
He said, “UNWTO has a long term commitment with Nigeria to develop tourism and attract more and more tourists to Nigeria. The numbers are very small at the moment and I think it’s a shame. Nigeria has to receive many more tourists to see the beauty and meet the people.”
Comments
Post a Comment