FG to hold national summit on culture, tourism
(Nigeria) The Federal Ministry of Information and Culture will hold a
National Summit on Culture and Tourism next month in an effort to make the
Culture and Tourism Sector a major revenue earner for the country.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Ahaji Lai Mohammed,
announced the plan to host the summit on Thursday when he paid a courtesy visit
to the governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, in his office in Lagos.
He said the summit, to be held in Abuja April 11 and 12, would
bring all stakeholders together to examine and proffer solutions to the
problems mitigating against culture and tourism being huge revenue earners for
the country.
''The summit will signpost our determination to put culture
and tourism at the very centre of the Federal Government's ongoing efforts to
diversify the economy away from oil,'' Alhaji Mohammed said.
He used the opportunity of the visit to invite Governor
Ambode to the summit, saying Lagos State, which is a foremost hub of
entertainment, arts, culture and tourism, has a big role to play in the efforts
to reposition the creative industry in the country.
The Minister hailed the Lagos State Government for embarking
on the provision of security and infrastructure, both of which are critical to
boosting culture and tourism.
''With the drastic fall in the price of crude oil, the
Federal Government is currently in the process of diversifying the country's
economy to shift emphasis to other key sectors like tourism, agriculture and
solid minerals. With particular reference to tourism, we have a lot to learn
from the giant strides that have been made by this state in the provision of
infrastructure, which is critical to stimulating tourism.
''The intra-city rail transportation system that is expected
to come on stream in December 2016, the 10-lane highway to Bagadry, which is
one of the state's foremost tourist destinations, and the provision of
effective security through the innovative Lagos State Security Trust Fund all
stand the state in good stead to remain the top tourist destination for a long
time to come,'' he said.
The Minister also sought the support of Lagos State
Government for the Federal Government's efforts to revamp the National Theatre
and restore its lost shine.
''Let me reiterate that the Federal Government will not sell
the National Theatre. Our plan is to develop the fallow land around the
edifice, using the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, and then use
the proceeds to rehabilitate the National Theatre. Again, Lagos State is a
trailblazer in this respect, having successfully leveraged the PPP model for
the Lekki Expressway,'' he said.
Responding, Gov. Ambode said he has accepted the invitation
to participate at the summit, adding: ''We will bring a large team.''
He commended Alhaji Mohammed for his invaluable role, as the
National Publicity Secretary, in the victory of the All Progressives Congress, APC,
at the last general elections, saying his appointment as Minister of
Information and Culture is well deserved.
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