Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Folarin Folorunsho Coker, has pledged that Tour Nigeria, the corporation’s tourism brand would leverage on local events, national holidays and other symbolisms to unleash the Nigerian tourism potential.
 Coker made this disclosure at the Delphino Picnic with the Theme, Spreading Happiness, held recently at the Julius Berger Shooting Range, Kado, Abuja.
The picnic was put together by Delphino, an entertainment outfit
managed by Emmanuel Onoja in collaboration with NTDC and holds biennially. The widely advertised Sundayrendezvous had music DJs dishing out high percussive and latest Nigerian songs. There were also food vendors in many varieties providing refreshments.
“It is just our own way of showing that there are so many things to enjoy in Abuja, hence the theme of the picnic, ‘Spreading Happiness’,†stated Onoja Adole, CEO of Delphino Entertainment.
Coker said that event was template on how NTDC intends to partner with private sector to unleash the tourism potential in the country. “This is a simple template and it is not a difficult thing to achieve. It is about bringing different assets together; that is music, light, stage, event planners, the entire ensemble; we bringing them all together,†explained the DG.Â
Coker further explained that the event was like having a wedding or any
of those social ceremonies. “Only, this one is in a larger scale. And this is not what only NTDC can do. Every state can do it. Everybody can connect to these new values that we have in terms of our cultural heritage. There are national assets in terms of sports, religion, film food, all of them; all those things that we already have.Â
There is no difference between this and large weddings. The difference here is that a wedding could be large but you don’t pay for the food. But things are tough now so let’s look at different ways of doing this.Â
We can set this up and have people pay to come in, eat and have a good time. It is cheaper than you going to Dubai.
