The National President of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN ), Dr. Badaki Aliyu, says the inauguration of the South South Zonal Council of the association calls for members to close ranks to further establish a stronghold on tourism development in the country.
Speaking to members of the Travel Writers Corps, Rivers State Chapter, at the Le Meridien Hotel, Ogeyi Place, Port Harcourt, on the sidelines of the Inauguration, Aliyu, who drew strength from earlier observations that FTAN is fragmented in the zone said, such divisions would not be allowed under his watch.
“I have assured the government that there is no division in FTAN, I will never allow that. FTAN is one. As an umbrella body of Tourism businesses in Nigeria, which is recognized by government, it behoves on everybody to close ranks to ensure that tourism activities strive well in the country and in the zones generally.”
The president also addressed the question of low contribution of tourism business to the GDP of Nigeria, pegged at below 3.5 %. Thus: “At the moment, we can’t talk of improvement on available data because the data is not available as indexes to work with. As part of our mandate, we are setting a body to collate the data to work with. However, government is expected to play a greater role by partnering with us to improve on our contribution to the Nigerian GDP.”
While expressing his appreciation on what they found on ground, the national president called on the newly inaugurated executives to bear in mind that FTAN has a structure, which must be followed and thus, watch out for its activities that would encourage tourism development in their states.
He called on the government to provide the enabling environment, security and support the association wherever possible to succeed. “You can’t have a tourism destination when the product is not well marketed. If people are not aware of the product, it will be difficult for people to come to your state on tourism.”
On the development of tourism bank, Dr. Badaki Aliyu stated that it has been ongoing, but the problem however is that nobody has been able to access the percentage that is supposed to be set aside for tourism development in the country. He however, called for collaboration between the government and private sector to bridge the gap in tourism development in the country.
Speaking earlier, Faith Esohe Essien, Vice President South South, said the inauguration of the zonal council executives marks a defining moment in the collective effort of the zone to reposition the South South as a formidable force in Nigeria’s tourism and hospitality landscape.
She described the South South as a tapestry of beauty, culture and abundance; from the ancient splendour of Benin city to the rhythmic festivals of Rivers and Bayelsa States and from the tranquil coastlines of Akwa Ibom and Cross River to the lush deltas of Delta and Edo.
Rueing that much of the zone’s natural and cultural wealth remains untapped, Essien said the collective mission of FTAN is to unlock the tourism destination of the south South in a responsible and sustainable enterprise, ensuring tourism becomes a true growth, vehicle for environmental economic stewardship, community empowerment and guided by the body’s mandate of Tourism Transformation as a Federation.
” Our focus as a region will be on accelerating regional investment, reimagining our heritage, investing in human capacity, strengthening partnerships and empowering our people. We are poised to translate our natural endowments into enduring prosperity;
“This calls for promoting eco-tourism, supporting community-based enterprises, strengthening public-private partnerships and leveraging technology and digital storytelling to showcase our region to the world,” She stated .
On the formal inauguration of the South South Zonal Council Executives, the vice president said ‘the event marks not an end, but a beginning of the dawn of green horizons where nature and enterprise meet, where culture and innovation thrive, and where the South-South stands tall as a model of sustainable tourism in Nigeria.”
Part of the highlight of the programme were cultural performances and icebreakers and a keynote address on GREEN HORIZONS: Unlocking the South-South’s Natural Wealth for Inclusive and Sustainable Prosperity Through Tourism delivered by Dr. Anthony Luka Elumelu, Retired Director of Private Sector, ECOWAS Commission.
The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Barr. Tamonialadieokuma Ishmael, who was the Special Guest of Honor gave a good will message, which called for unity between groups in the association to attract government patronage.
The members of the FTAN South South Executive Council inaugurated were, Henry Erikowa, Zonal Deputy Vice President, Awomoyi Ayomeji, Zonal Membership Officer, Akpako Ufouma, Zonal General Treasurer, Emmanuel Ossai, Zonal PRO, Veronica Obasi, Zonal General Secretary and the Zonal Chairmen were, Joseph Umoh, Akwa Ibom, Charles Ogar, Cross River, Chibukem Diala, Delta, Iminabo Princewill, Rivers and William Parker, Bayelsa.
