Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide
By Senator Iroegbu
The Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, has disclosed that the FCT Administration (FCTA) had put in place measures to make Abuja the preferred tourism destination in the country.
Akinjide, who was represented by her Special Assistant on Art and Culture, Mr. Adeniyi Olagunju, stated this Wenesday in London while declaring open the international photography exhibition of the Abuja Carnival organised by the Administration at the famous Tiwani Contemporary.
The Minister, in a statement signed by her Special Assistant (Media and Publicity), Mr. Oluyinka Akintunde, said that the exhibition was designed to make the annual Abuja carnival the choice event for Nigerians and international tourists.
She noted that the photography exhibition was aimed at boosting tourism, enhancing national prestige, increasing participation, improving carnival packaging and optimizing commercial opportunities offered by the carnival.
She said: “The photography exhibition is put together to project the Abuja Carnival. The carnival is being taken beyond the shores of Nigeria to stimulate much needed national and international popularity and also to optimize the commercial opportunities such an event could offer.
“Besides staging the photography exhibition in London, we will also be holding similar Abuja Carnival exhibition in New York and Dallas in United States, Hong Kong and Shanghai in China, and Abuja, Lagos, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers and Kaduna in Nigeria.
“This initiative is sending a clear message about the FCTA’s commitment to economic development through tourism. The Abuja carnival, through art and culture, is becoming a major driver for growth in the Federal Capital City and the Area Councils,” she stressed.
Akinjide explained that the Abuja National Carnival, which is a platform to showcase the rich cultural heritage and tourism potentials of Nigeria to the world, was first celebrated in 2005.