Demola Ojo
Nigeria last week won the right to host the 61st meeting of African Ministers in charge of Tourism, tagged the UN World Tourism Organisation (WTO) Commission for Africa (CAF).
Nigeria won the hosting right by acclamation following the presentation of a five-minute video, entitled ‘’Simply Nigeria’’ to delegates at the 59th edition of the UNWTO CAF Meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
The compelling video, which highlighted Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage and tourism destinations, was greeted by a prolonged applause.
Making a case for Nigeria’s bid, which was launched at the 58th edition of the UNWTO CAF Meeting in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, in 2015, the Mohammed said it presents an opportunity for the country of almost 200 million people ‘’to showcase our rich cultural heritage and to promote Nigeria as a leisure and business destination’’.
He described Nigeria as a ‘’fascinating country’’ which previously hosted the UNWTO CAF Meeting in 2003, 2008 and 2012, in addition to hosting the Second World Festival of Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture in 1977.
Mohammed continued by saying Nigeria is a country of peaceful and hospitable people, and that the 2018 UNWTO CAF Meeting will be a practical demonstration of the government’s commitment to developing the tourism sector as an alternative source of revenue.
