FEDERAL MINISTRY OF TOURISM, CULTURE AND NATIONAL ORIENTATION

Today’s global economic CHALLENGES have forced many countries to look for other sources of improving THEIR economy. THIS IS WHY MANY NATIONS AROUND THE WORLD HAVE EMBARKED ON STRENGTHENING THEIR TOURISM POTENTIAL TO ATTRACT INVESTMENT. NIGERIA HAS NOT BEEN LEFT OUT IN THIS REGARD. The Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation have since its creation steadily positioned itself to place the country in the global map of countries that can earn revenue from sources APART FROM OIL. This was the FOCUS OF THE MINISTER’S PRESENTATION AT THE MINISTERIAL NEWS BRIEFING HELD IN ABUJA RECENTLY. The Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation along with its parastatals such as the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, NTDC, National Council for Arts and Culture, National Troupe and the National Gallery of Arts, to mention a few has shown that Nigeria, like other countries, can earn huge revenue from marketing Tourism, Arts and Culture.

This is why over the period, the MINISTRY HAS COME up with policies that would create the much needed enabling environment for Tourism to thrive. IT IS CURRENTLY implementing the Nigeria’s Tourism Master Plan which PROMOTES SUPPORT FOR THE NATION’S TOURISM OUTFITS SUCH AS Tinapa Business Leisure and Conference Resort in Cross River State, the Farin Ruwa Water Fall in Nasarawa State and the Olokola Cultural Resort in Ondo State. The Ministry has also DEVELOPED A CULTURAL POLICY FOR THE NATIONS WHICH IS NOW BEING IMPLEMENTED IN LINE WITH CURRENT REALITIES. In recognition of the fact that culture gives identity to a people that the Ministry has not relented in its effort to preserve THE NATION’S collective cultural heritage and also use our culture to promote Tourism. In 2009, the Ministry initiated and developed six Cultural Industry Centres in Taraba, Enugu, Benue, Ogun, Ondo and Sokoto with a view to harnessing local talents, generate employment and economic emancipation. In 2009 it also established the Nigerian Cultural House in Salvador, Brazil to boost Nigeria’s image internationally. It has also recently completed work on the mapping of the Indigenous Slavery and Slave Trade Routes in Nigeria under the chairmanship and guidance of the Distinguished and world renowned scholar. Prof. J.F. Ade-Ajayi. The Book is due for launching very soon.
The Ministry’s department of National Orientation which oversees the National Orientation Agency has also been contributing to the socio-economic development of the country. In order to create an atmosphere of peace and economic development, the department recently undertook a survey of Nigeria’s six geo-political zones to examine ways to create understanding and harmony among the different religious and ethnic groups. While work is still going on these, its Public service integrity at work programme, which is a programme meant to instill high level of integrity in the Public Service and curb corruption was launched by the National Orientation Agency UNDER THE MINISTRY’S SUPERVISION. The Ministry’s Parastatal, the NTDC has ALSO recently launched Tourism FM; a Radio station meant so give tourism its pride of place in our economic development. These formed the highlights of the 2009 Ministerial Briefing of the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation DURING which A call WAS MADE TO the Small Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) to SUPPORT Tourism, Arts and Culture sector of THE economy. At the Briefing, the Minister gave an insight into THE policies and programmes the Ministry would continue to pursue THIS YEAR.
These include, consolidating on its achievements in 2009, CONTINUED rehabilitation of Museums and Archives nation-wide to effectively position them as foremost Tourism sites for tourists and visitors alike, completion of the Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe building in Zungeru, Niger State as a historical and cultural site. OTHER TARGETS INCLUDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF a more vibrant relationship with UNESCO, European Union, Africa Union and other developmental partners for the advancement of culture and tourism in Nigeria, Launching of the reviewed National Cultural Policy as well as organizing workshops on the implementation of the policy. IF ALL CONCERNED PARTIES PURSUE THESE PROGRAMMES WITH COMMITMENT THE COUNTRY WILL NO DOUBT BECOME A TOURISM HAVEN FOR PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD AND IN TURN ATTRACT THE MUCH NEEDED FOREIGN INVESTMENT.


Source: recorded live from FRCN daily commentary