Come November 14 to 16, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Conference will be held in Nigeria. Venue is the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos. The conference which will be attended by 166 nations will focus on Cultural properties that help to accelerate economic development and job creation in the tourism sector. EDOZIE UDEZE who attended the press briefing by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed writes on the core relevance of this global conference to Nigeria, to the world.
Nigeria is set to host the forthcoming United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Conference. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has confirmed so. The date for the global conference is November 14 to 16 and the main venue is the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos. Last week, the Minister and his team were in Lagos on an official tour of the facilities being put in place for the all important UNWTO conference. The primary hosting venue, the National Theatre which has been undergoing renovations in the past months was certified to be ready before the conference date.
However, while addressing the press the day after, Mohammed reaffirmed that Nigeria is ready to host the world and to also use the opportunity of the conference to let the world know that Nigeria is safe. He reiterated the need to rally round to ensure that visitors to the conference and indeed all participants are given the freedom to enjoy and wallow in the cultural hospitality of Nigeria.
With the theme of the conference as: UNWTO Global conference on linking tourism, culture and creative industries: Pathways to recovery and inclusive development, it will offer the world an ample moment to discuss issues necessary to promote different cultural heritages of the world. But more importantly, it is time for Africa to look inwards for the special priority attention to domestic tourism.
Like most people have observed in recent times, time has come when governments, agencies, individuals and more have to pay maximum attention to cultural issues and properties that enhance tourism. Therefore, with time also, tourism will become a huge revenue earner when the right indices are put in place in that direction. This is so, because the UNWTO conference which will be an all – inclusive business will harp on the need to make all areas of culture and creativity receive proper attention for a more accelerated and speedy development.
The right to host this all important conference was given to Nigeria last year. It was at the 64th meeting of UNWTO commission for Africa (CAF). It was held in Cape Verde and there the need to focus attention on the hosting right of Nigeria arose. Today, it behooves on the nation, the largest tourism destination in West Africa, to rise to the occasion. According to Mohammed, this is a rare and golden opportunity and the country has put all the necessary insignia in top gear to make it work. “I can assure you that Nigeria is ready. This is why we have let the world know that Nigeria is safe. We have ensured that terrorists and bandits and kidnappers have been put in proper check”.
He went on: “Since the hosting right was given to us in 2021, we have started preparations for the event, inaugurating the planning committee which has since swung into action. Also, a team from UNWTO headquarters in Madrid, Spain, is currently in Nigeria on a preliminary mission for this conference.” Part of the team included the regional director for Africa, Elcia Grandcourt, deputy director regional department for Africa, Jaime Mayki and the communication expert for Africa, Kojo Bentum.
Interestingly, the team formed the main nucleus of those who inspected and confirmed the venues suitable and good enough to host the world. Mohammed was happy with the level of work done at the Theatre. This has made him state clearly that those handling the facilities are serious and will deliver right on the dot of time. He said: “the purpose of the mission here in Nigeria, which is in line with the rules of the organization is to inspect the facilities for the conference. This includes the National Theatre, the venue, then the designated hotels, venues for social events and finally to receive briefs from the planning committee”.
It is of note however, that the team found the level of preparations made by Nigeria to be satisfactory. “Yes,” the minister responded with full assurance, “I am pleased to inform you that the team is very satisfied with the level of Nigeria’s preparedness to host the global conference.”
Even though that Covid 19 pandemic disrupted global economy mostly in tourism and other aspects of world affairs, travelers have begun to show interest in the sector once more. But it is also another opportunity for the 166 countries that will converge in Nigeria to look into how to create more jobs in the sector. It was pointed out that one out of every ten jobs for the youths these days come from the sector. What this means therefore is that the more attention paid to tourism, to creativity generally, the more the society offers respite to its teaming population, more so the youths.
Mohammed, an advocate of job creation by the sector said, “with the recovery and lifting of restrictions in almost all parts of the world, global leaders and international community are seeking for industries that can stimulate socio-economic recovery. This will accelerate job creation and inclusive development, hence the tourism and creative industries have huge potential to bridge this gap as the most rapidly growing sectors of the world economy. Therefore, the tourism sector creates one out of every ten jobs. And then the creative industries generate around 30 million jobs, mostly for the youths. Women who constitute nearly half of the workers and account for 6.1% of global GDP also come in here”.
Even though it looks like an all government hosting right and responsibility, the minister candidly extended his hands of fellowship to the private sector to show interest in the conference. For him this is time for maximum and proper partnership with concerned stakeholder to reawaken all areas of the sectors and industries that connect to tourism. Tourism will continue to remain a goldmine in any society that pays the required attention to it. He said, “countries bid to host international conferences and events because they provide a credible opportunity and platform to market the various sectors of their national economies. Nigeria therefore intends to leverage on this very important event to market and highlight its diverse and unique assets in the areas of tourism, culture and the creative industries.
“This is why I use this opportunity to invite relevant public and private sector stakeholders to be part of this important event by registering and participating in it…” But then, in all its composition to involve all the sectors concerned, the conference will look into the level of music, advertising, crafts, arts, designs, fashion, film, video, photography, performing arts, publishing, research and development, television, media, all, as the main hallmark of the creative economy and the pivot driver for sustainable development. Seminars and workshops will be held on all the sub-sectors to hammer on how to move ahead for growth and development.
In particular special attention will be paid to the Nollywood industry, tagged a day with Nollywood. In addition, exhibitions will be mounted on fashion, music, movie, crafts, visual art and perhaps books and more. In all these, tourism, culture and the creative industries will be linked to create the necessary leeway and harmony to achieve national economy in no distant time.
The minister attended the briefing with key officials of UNWTO and the federal ministry of Information and Culture.