President Buhari’s Programmes, Efforts Endorsed Globally – Lai Mohammed

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed
said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s programmes
and efforts of his administration have been endorsed
globally.
The Minister said this while describing Nigeria’s right to
host the United Nation World Tourism Organisation
(UNWTO) conference in 2018.
He said on Thursday in Addis Ababa that the hosting right
reiterated the confidence the global community has in
Nigeria.
Nigeria, on Wednesday, won the right to host, in 2018, the
61st meeting of African Ministers in charge of Tourism

tagged UNWTO Commission for Africa (CAF)
Mohammed, who led Nigeria’s delegation to Addis Ababa
for the 59th edition of the meeting and a high level
meeting on Chinese Outbound Tourism in Africa, said the
country would leverage on the hosting opportunity.
““Wednesday was a big moment for Nigeria here in Addis
Ababa because Nigeria got the endorsement of the whole
world to host the 61st session of the CAF mission of the
UNTWO.
““What that means really is that the entire world has
endorsed the programmes and efforts of President
Buhari’s administration,’’ he said.
Mohammed said that hosting the conference should be
seen in a bigger picture that “Nigeria “is once again on the
global stage’’.
He said the event would provide the country, the
opportunity to showcase its diverse culture and give its
own narrative from its own perspective.
“
“Hosting this conference will give confidence to investors
that this is a country they can come and invest in.
“
“It will also convince the entire world that Nigeria is
serious in promoting culture, music, film and
entertainment industry to diversify its economy,’’ he said,
The minister said that no amount of money invested in
hosting the conference could be seen as waste because
of the goodwill it will bring to the country.
He said so many other countries were bidding to host the
event to boost their tourism industry and attract goodwill
to their nations.
Speaking in same vein, the Secretary General of UNWTO,
Taleb Rifa said “the endorsement of Nigeria for the
hosting of 61st CAF “is a great piece of news for the
country’’.
““I am absolutely sure that with the hosting of the CAF
meeting, you will see that the Nigeria’s tourism industry
will get on the right track and achieve results.
““In addition to the direct economic benefits this event
will bring to the country, the limelight the country will be
exposed to is unquantifiable.
“
“Nigeria will be hosting all Ministers of Tourism in Africa,
that itself will send the powerful message that tourism is
important for Nigeria.”
Rifai said Nigeria was a major player in tourism industry
and the UNTWO had missed the country in its fold until
the minister launched it back last year.
““Nigeria is one third in times of number and the weight it
represents in the arts, the movie and the creative industry
in general in Africa.
“
“What comes out of Nigeria in these areas of the industry
is enough to be disseminated to the whole world.
“
“However, Nigeria is not utilising that yet and this
conference will be a great opportunity to realise that,’’ he
said.
Rifai commended the passion and efforts of the minister
at repositioning the tourism and creative sector.
(NAN)