Picture Caption
Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed
(left), handing over an Invitation Letter to the 61st United Nations
World Tourism Organisation Commission for Africa Meeting to Governor
Godwin Obaseki (right) at the Edo State Government House in Benin on
Friday.
Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said
the stage is now set for the 61st edition of the UN World Tourism
Organization (UNWTO) Commission for Africa (CAF) Meeting, which
Nigeria will host from 4-6 June 2018 in Abuja.
The Minister gave the assurance in Benin, Edo State, on Friday when he
paid a courtesy/promotional visit to the State Governor, Mr. Godwin
Obaseki.
“Your Excellency, with the support of many stakeholders, I can boldly
say that we are ready to host a very successful meeting. The various
committees and sub-committees that we have put together to prepare for
the summit are doing a great job. We will not disappoint,” he said.
Alhaji Mohammed said Benin City, being a repository of a rich culture,
cannot be ignored in the preparation for the global tourism meeting,
hence the decision to visit the city as part of the ongoing nationwide
advocacy tour for the meeting.
He said the meeting will afford Nigeria the unique opportunity to
expose her rich culture to the rest of the world, in addition to
exploring the theme, Tourism Statistics: A Catalyst for Development,
to generate the much-needed statistics for the development of the
tourism sector in Nigeria.
“For Nigeria, this is a great opportunity. In addition to the
socio-economic gains, the event will put Nigeria, and the nation’s
tourism industry in particular, on the world map, attract foreign
research experts and promote the necessary network that will form the
basis for future cooperation. Nigeria will also get a rare opportunity
to showcase itself to the world: Its tourist attractions, its rich
culture, as well as its music and films, which have become the toast
of the world, “ the Minister said.
Alhaji Mohammed, who solicited for the support of the Edo State
Government towards the successful hosting of the event, used the
occasion to formally invite the Governor to the event.
In his remarks, Governor Obaseki said the state government believes in
the ability of tourism to significantly contribute to the economic
development of the nation in general, and noted that Edo has so much
to show the world.
“As it relates to the UNWTO CAF conference, as a state just like you
explained, we believe that we have the greatest tourism potentials.
“We understand the benefits of tourism to any evolving and emerging
economy. A country like Indonesia whose GDP was four times less than
that of Nigeria in 1994 today has a GDP five times that of Nigeria.
The economy of Indonesia is grown by two key contributors to their
GDP: oil palm and tourism,” he said.
While pledging the support of Edo State towards the hosting of the
event, Governor Obaseki commended the Minister for his untiring effort
in educating Nigerians on the policies and programmes of the Federal
Government.
“We appreciate the perspective and illumination you have continued to
give federal government programmes and policies. Times are difficult
especially with the difficult economic environment we find ourselves,
and it takes a man of competence and knowledge like you to explain for
the people to understand what this government is doing to alleviate
the sufferings of the people,” he said.
left); Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (fourth from left) and
other officials of the Federal and Edo State Governments during a
courtesy/promotional visit by the Minister on the forthcoming 61st UN
World Tourism Organisation Commission for Africa Meeting taking place
in Abuja 4-6 June 2018
