The Minister of Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John, on Thursday, asked the 36 governors to prioritize tourism development, saying that many of the country’s assets fall under state jurisdiction
Ade-John, who spoke in Abuja at the first Abuja Tourism Parliament, also called for a collective effort to invest in tourism infrastructure and promote Nigeria’s unique attributes to position the country as a premier global tourist destination.
The event was themed: “Tourism as a Catalyst for Job Creation and Economic Diversification: A Call to Action for Nigerian Governors”.
Represented by her Special Adviser, Mr Kelvin Ikegwuonu, the minister urged stakeholders to collaborate in unlocking the sector’s full potential and to support her ministry’s support to manage and develop tourism assets.
She said, “Tourism can contribute significantly to our foreign exchange earnings, boosting our national income and also making things work. To fully realize this potential, we call on our esteemed partners to prioritize tourism development in their respective locations and also our governors because we believe one thing we should explain to people is that many of these assets don’t belong to the ministry; they belong to the state.”
She explained that if the sector is strategically developed, it could generate employment across various sectors, including hospitality, transportation, and arts and crafts, with ripple effects that could significantly impact the economy.
“It can be a lifeline for our teenage youth population, offering gainful employment and entrepreneurship avenues. Moreover, tourism is a key to economic diversification. By reducing our over-excellence on oil, we can build a more resilient and sustainable economy,” she said.
Also speaking, the Gambian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mohamadou Musa Njie, stressed the need for a strategic tourism policy that incorporates sustainable programs, investment in infrastructure, and community involvement.
He said, ”Nigeria’s diverse cultural heritage, landscapes, and vibrant communities have great potential for job creation, wealth generation, and economic growth.”
Earlier, the convener of the Tourism Parliament, Ambassador Ayo Omotosho, had expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for establishing the Ministry of Tourism, noting the importance of using media to positively project tourism and engage governors across the country.
He emphasized that integrating all 36 states and the FCT into the tourism initiative would significantly enhance job creation, citing tourism as one of the highest employers of labour.