Runsewe Commends Makinde for Creating Separate Ministry for Tourism, Culture

The Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Segun Runsewe has said time has come for Nigeria to take cultural tourism business seriously and give it political and financial push necessary to derive the expected gains.

He commended Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde for strategically repositioning the state tourism economy, separating it from Information. 

According to Runsewe, the development is not only cheerful and interesting but a strategic effort to promote and market the cultural tourism economy of Oyo State, a destination rich in culture, history, and tradition.

“What the governor did in Oyo State amounts to a deep thought through action plan, and I commend him for that boldness in decision making. If we truly must harness the gains of tourism in Nigeria, we should be bold to have a stand-alone Ministry of Tourism, and I must thank Governor Makinde for setting the ball rolling.”

Runsewe further pleaded with other governors to properly situate the strength of the tourism economy, drive it through an exclusive process and engagements, partnering with the private sector tourism practitioners leadership to fast pace the tourism economy and ensure adequate funding for marketing and promotion.

“Honestly, I am happy at what is coming out from Oyo State and once it takes off and is adequately funded and with the right manpower, a leadership that can run the distance, Oyo State definitely will be the right place to visit, no doubt with the state being peaceful, united and secured by Governor Seyi Makinde, the state surely will have plenty experiences to share and market.”

Makinde had separated tourism from the state Ministry of Information, Tourism and Culture, saying information will now be run as a separate ministry, devoid of having tourism and culture as mere appendages.

The governor noted that tourism must enjoy full throttle attention so as to impact on the people’s diversity in culture and hospitality, which the state is richly blessed.