Tourism has all it takes to rebrand Nigeria’s economy – FCT Minister, Wike
Tourism has all it takes to rebrand Nigeria’s economy – FCT Minister, Wike
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, said tourism is needed to reposition Nigeria’s economy.
Wike stated this at an interactive session with the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation, Continental Leadership, NIDO, put together by the Emerging Abuja Projects team in Abuja.
The Minister, represented by the Director of Tourism, Ann Dogo, who stressed that the government must partner with private sectors to move the business forward, noted that the private sector plays critical roles in the development of tourism.
“Tourism has all it takes to rebrand any given economy. When people with passion participate and contribute their quota, in the next five years, the story of this country will change,” Wike stated.
“It is very important for the government to partner with private sectors to move tourism forward. The government cannot do it alone. There is no country that has done it. The participation of the private sectors in tourism is very critical to national development,” the Minister emphasised.
He added that an initiative, like tourism volunteers, will help in identifying areas that need to be modified to meet global standards, which will create more room for tourists in the country.
The Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation, Harold Ogunfemi, also speaking, said the project would give Abuja and Nigeria a new face in the tourism world.
He stated that NIDO Europe will be signing a memorandum of understanding with all the organisations’ legal units to legally promote this project.
“This is a beautiful idea, and NIDO Europe will support it across the globe. We also have NIDO worldwide, which means all the world will know about this project, and we will advertise it and bring tourism expertise, both Nigerians and non-Nigerians, into Abuja to see the new emerging Abuja,” Ogunfemi stressed.
On his part, the Brand Ambassador of Emerging Abuja Projects and former Super Eagles Coach, Samson Siasia, urged Nigerians, both at home and in the diaspora, to collaborate to make Nigeria a tourism hub.
“We always go to Europe and other places for vacation; why don’t foreigners come to Nigeria too? I think both Nigerians at home and in the diaspora should be part of making Nigeria a tourism hub,” Siasia stated.
Earlier, the Deputy Coordinator of the Emerging Abuja Projects, Ani Asamah, said the project will make Abuja busy during the festive seasons, which will attract tourists and increase revenue for the FCT. This NIDO has 23 countries under it.