Stakeholders in the tourism sector on Monday said that Nigeria missed out on a potential $9bn in revenue by not adopting a cultural exchange initiative similar to Ghana’s successful ‘Year of Return.’
The initiative, NewsNGR learnt, drew nearly $9bn to Ghana in its first year, aimed at strengthening cultural ties between Africans on the continent.
The initiative is aimed at promoting Ghana as a tourist destination and investment opportunity as well as to encourage resettlement in the motherland for the Africans in the diaspora.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja to herald the Cultural Oneness Festival billed to take place from 13th- 16th November 2024 in Tamale, Northern Ghana, the Country Director of the festival, Ambassador Kazeem Balogun, urged Nigeria to learn from Ghana’s approach, suggesting that similar initiatives could bring substantial economic benefits through tourism and culture.
Balogun, who drew comparisons between Ghana’s tourism success and Nigeria’s untapped potential, alleged that similar efforts to replicate Ghana’s cultural exchange initiative were frustrated.
“It’s more like the United States of Africa. If we are not doing it right, I think we should learn from those people who are doing it right.
Despite Ghana’s success, attempts to replicate the initiative in Nigeria have faced challenges, including resistance from government bodies concerned about the implications of granting citizenship to Africans in the diaspora.
“If Nigeria gets something like that, it will be in the record that through creativity, tourism, and culture, such an amount of money got into the government’s purse, just like in Ghana. Ghana raked in nearly $9bn from the initiative in its first year,” he said.
On the upcoming Cultural Oneness Festival, he said it would feature a Nigeria-Ghana tourism roundtable, which is aimed at facilitating cultural exchange and business networking while promoting African arts.
Also speaking, the Assistant Director of the Cultural Oneness Festival, Ambassador Peace Onuiri, emphasized the need for Nigeria to embrace such initiatives to boost its tourism and cultural sectors.
She stressed that participation in the events would foster unity and integration within West Africa, and promote a cultural shift towards greater appreciation of local traditions and attire.
On his part, the CEO of The Taste of Afrika Ltd, Tengol Kplemani, highlighted the festival’s mission to promote unity and diversity through cultural exchange.
He noted that the event would provide a platform for traditional rulers and leaders from across Africa to collaborate on advancing their communities.
Also, the Co-founder of The Taste of Afrika Ltd, Martin Chris Glin, emphasized that the event would include cultural tours, street carnivals, a durbar of kings and queens, and a fashion show.