The Nation Newspaper

Category: Tourism

  • Amachree calls on governors to honour distinguished citizens

    The President of the Centre for Promotion of Peace, Tourism, Arts and Culture, Chief Mike Amachree, has called on elected leaders in all tiers of government to copy the example of River State Governor Nyesom Wike and honour personalities and citizens who have contributed to political and socio-economic development of their area.

    Chief Amachree made this statement during a recent chat with newsmen in Port Harcourt, the River State capital.

    Citing the example of River State, Amachree said the state’s  recognition of some prominent sons and daughters  in different spheres of human endeavour  in the length and breathe of the has  contributed immensely in the advancement of Rivers State. The recognition which was done by the Wike-led administration in the state is an eloquent testimony of the sincerity of the governance of the state.

    The tourism mogul described the honour done to them as one of many laudable achievements of the present administration.

    Amachree, who was a member of the National Vision 2010 Tourism Committee during the General Sanni Abacha-led government, explained that recognizing excellence is a motivating force. He urged other state governors especially Lagos, Plateau, Kano, Enugu, Cross River, Bayelsa, Osun states to do the same to those who have played prominent role in the advancement and development of their states.

    Governor Wike, during the 50th anniversary celebration of River State,  honoured former River State governors, legal luminaries, tourism investors, industrialists and religious leaders who have contributed to the growth of the state. Amachree described the gesture as a step in the right direction.

    It would be recalled, Chief Mike

  • N-Power trains 2600 in hospitality sector

    2,600 Nigerian are currently benefitting from the Federal Government’s N-Power skill acquisition training in the hospitality industry. This was disclosed by the President of the Institute of Tourism Professionals (ITP), Chief Abiodun Odusanwo.

    Odusanwo said the N-Power project was going on so well and running in 36 centres across the country. The N-Power hospitality programme, which kicked off on May 28, this year, has centres in every state of the federation.

    He spoke further: “It is a one-year programme, consisting three months training and nine months industrial attachment.

    “It is an N-Power programme which covers a number of sectors, including construction industry, technology, agriculture and hospitality industry.

    “ITP  is the awarding body for the sector. We sought and got the concurrence of the Federal Government for the programme to include the hospitality industry among the sectors. In the past, they have done for construction whereby they train welders, artisans in different areas, masons, painters and so on.

    “So, through our efforts, it made them to include hospitality and the programme is now available in the 36 states.”

    Read Also: N-Power stipends hit N279 billion

    Speaking on the level of acceptance of the programme and participation, Odusanwo said: “We have over 2600 beneficiaries throughout the country. There are at least two centres in every state. Some have four, some five. It is actually bringing billions of naira to the industry because each learner is paid a stipend of N10,000 per month; each training centre is paid to train the learners. Each centre receives the consumables free of charge to use in doing the practical learning. Each beneficiaries will receive the tools relevant to their trades after the three months of the training; and the learners do not pay anything. They even get one free meal per day.”

    Odusanwo said the N-Power training in the hospitality industry would improve the number of skilled and trained personnel in the industry.

    He said: “It will actually improve the level and number of trained persons in the industry, particularly in the five areas covered by the project: bartending, catering, cakes and pastry making, mixology and house-keeping.

    “So, if you look at all those areas, these are five key areas that the hospitality industry needs a lot of manpower, particularly at the entry level. Now, what this industry does is that the issue of people not being able to run for the programme because they don’t have the money is taken care of. The issue of I do not have money for transport to attend training has been taken care of because they are given a monthly stipend to attend. They are actually given food once a day during the programme.

    “Also the issue of I have done the programme, I cannot set up on my own is taken care of since they get tools after training. All these are free to the beneficiaries because we actually pay  the centres to train them. It costs them nothing because it is under the government’s N-Power programme.”

    The N-Power training is an economic  programme of the Federal Government to create employment and social development . N-Power addresses the challenge of youth unemployment by providing a structure for large scale and relevant work skills acquisition and development while linking its core and outcomes to fixing inadequate public services and stimulating the larger economy. The modular programmes under N-Power will ensure that each participant will learn and practise most of what is necessary to find or create work. The N-Power Volunteer Corp involves a massive deployment of 500,000 trained graduates who will assist to improve the inadequacies in our public services in education, health and civic education. Some of these graduates will also help in actualising Nigeria’s economic and strategic aspirations of achieving food security and self-sufficiency.

  • Benin to host NAFEST 2019 in October

    THE Edo State capital will be agog with festivities from October 19 to 26 as  Senegal, Mali, France, Ghana and many other countries will participate in the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST).

    This was made certain during the 49th national stakeholders meeting on NAFEST  holding in Benin.

    Speaking during the opening ceremony, the governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, represented by the Commissioner for Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora Affairs, Osazee Osemwegie-Ero, said the state had secured the commitment of several countries towards NAFEST in a bid to project the ancient cultural endowments of Benin.

    Adorned in the rich traditional regalia symbolic of Benin royalty, Otunba Segun Runsewe, Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture and chief host observed in his address that NAFEST would not only serve as a unity forum, but would also provide a major economic boost for Edo.

    Runsewe added that the platform would offer the opportunity to promote globally the rich, undiluted culture of Edo which is at least one thousand years old.

    He solicited for continuous unity among Nigerians which NAFEST seeks to promote stating that unity is a precursor to economic prosperity citing the Dubai example which, according to him, can be replicated if we harness the rich culture of Edo as an economic product.

    The opening followed a technical session convened at the instance of the NCAC and several stakeholders in the industry who will be brainstorming and developing concepts to ensure 2019 NAFEST is truly memorable.

  • ATQ to recognise tourism experts

    African Travel Quarterly (Atqnews.com) has unveiled the first list of the winners of the Africa Travel 100 Global Personalities awards.

    The African Travel 100 Global Personalities award will take place during the 15th Akwaaba African Travel Market at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos on  September 23. Akwaaba African Travel Market is from  September 22 to 24.

    The award is expected to honour personalities in the travel and tourism sector that have contributed to the growth of the sector in Africa and in the Diaspora. The event will be part of the First African Tourism Diaspora Conference 2019. The Conference is expected to draw top tourism personalities from around the world to Lagos Nigeria.

    African Tourism Diaspora Conference 2019 is to mark the 400 years of slavery. Slavery is a very sensitive topic that has created an uncomfortable relationship between Africa and its diaspora. The conference is an opportunity to celebrate the merging of Africans, Americans, Caribbeans and the rest of the world during this memorable gathering expected in Lagos.

    Africa with 54 countries and a population of 1.2 billion has unbelievable tourist attractions. The Caribbean and African diaspora have unique culture, a rich heritage and beautiful destinations for tourists, hence the need to connect and combine these wonderful cultures and population together, creating a huge global market.

    The African Diaspora Tourism Conference presents a platform to discuss, initiate, dialogue and celebrate this new relationship. However, the recognition of Africa as a beacon of hope for African people living on the continent and in the Diaspora to explore, relate and live using the African Diaspora Tourism Conference as the African platform for the foundation of this long lasting relationship. Posterity will remember that the improvement was earned not by coincidence but by conscious efforts to validate the struggles, strengths and linkages between African descendants on a Pan-African scale.

    The African diaspora and Africa have same unique culture, a rich heritage and beautiful destinations for tourism and trade. Therefore, there is a need to connect and combine these wonderful cultures and population as a market for mutual benefit. The Africa Travel 100 Awards now in her 18th year has recognized over the years leaders, industry practitioners and government official who have promoted tourism and improved travel using unique platforms and new information.

  • Culture on display as Ondo honours Abiola

    THE 2019 June 12 celebration in Ondo State was a departure from the past. In place of the expected regular public lectures to discuss issues relating to the historic June 12, 1993 presidential election presumably won by the frontline businessman, the late Chief MKO Abiola, Ondo State opted for a stage drama to drive home the message of the election, globally reputed to be the fairest in the political history of the country.

    Unlike the conventional style of hosting lectures or symposia, the Ondo State government employed the vehicle of popular theatre to  recreate the unforgettable moments of June 12 with its concomitant hopes, betrayals, dictatorship, tragedies and unfathomable cycle of man’s inhumanity to man.

    The special stage drama presentation, entitled JUNE 12: THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES, traces Nigeria’s struggle for democracy from the military coup that toppled the democratically elected government of President Shehu Sagari  in January 1984 by a military cabal led by General Muhammadu Buhari.

    Using music, mime, costumes and mind blowing narrative techniques, the play reminds us of a sad past and uncertain future.

    With an A-list cast that included popular Nollywood acts like Toyin Adegbola, Ebun Oloyede, Taiwo Ibikunle, Potable and a host of others, nothing less was expected. For more than three hours, the crowd that gathered inside the International Culture and Event Centre, Akure, were left in awe of the politics and intrigues of the June 12, 1993 election.

    Joined by the state cultural troupe, the cast did justice to the theme. A giant canoe on the stage (painted in the colour of Nigerian flag), depicted the country, as each successive leader struggled to row the canoe in the troubled waters of corruption, nepotism, violence and division among the ethnic nationalities.

    The drama opened with beautiful drumming, followed by enchanting choruses that soon dovetailed into acrobatic dancing steps that left the crowd asking for more. From the opening stage, it was a matter of you missing an action if you wink. The drama also exposed the roles played by the various actors in the struggle to the attainment of the current democratic dispensation.

    And expectedly, the guests, which included the state deputy governor, Agboola Ajayi, commissioners and other top bureaucrats, were left on the edges of their seats till the curtains were drawn. But importantly, the images left on the minds of the crowd by the drama left everlasting impressions which no lecture could.

    Even the young ones, who were not born when the stories being presented took place, now has better understanding of the tragic events that set the country on the brink of a precipice between 1993 and 1999.

    For the younger generation, it was a great opportunity to know and understand the undercurrents that led to the annulment of the election and the roles played by all the groups and individuals, including the popular National Democratic Coalition, better known as NADECO.

    To drive home the points embedded in the drama, a three-man panellist, which included journalist and social commentator, Lanre Arogundade, and Oba Adedokun Abolarin,  the Orangun of Oke-Ila were unanimous in their commendations for the state for using drama to drive home an important aspect of the nation’s history.

    They explained that the drama captured and chronicled the series of events and activities that gave birth to the democracy Nigerians are enjoying today, and advised that the drama be packaged into a documentary to further educate Nigerians and future generations on the roles played by the individual heroes of the June 12 struggle.

  • The Luxury Reporter marks fifth anniversary

    The Luxury Reporter magazine celebrates its fifth anniversary with a well-attended event by experts in the luxury sector held at The Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos recently.

    The event afforded attendees a glimpse into the activities of the magazine since it was founded on May 24, 2014.

    Speaking at the event, Mrs Funke Osae-Brown, founder/publisher of The Luxury Reporter, said the idea for the magazine came to her at a point in her career when she knew she wanted to embark on a new adventure.

    According to her, the magazine kicked off five years ago with a website, www.luxuryreporter.comg.ng before it began its print edition three years later.

    “We ran the website for more than a year. Before we migrated to www.luxuryreporter.ng. We later introduced the digital edition of the magazine which we did for two full years with 24 digital editions. Along the line, we identified a market for print. Hotels, private jets operators, airlines, automobile companies, retail stores need print editions for their clients.

    “In January 2018, we announced our first print edition which had on the cover emerging brands and a buyer, Abela, TPS Luxury, Pere Lei, Okiki Marinho, Scentify, and Ndidi Obioha,” she said.

    Besides, she explained that the print edition paved the way for our exclusive partnership with PrivateJets Nigeria as advertisers in The Luxury Reporter print edition will have 30 seconds clips of their advert placed in the in-flight entertainment screen of all the aircraft of PrivateJets.

    “Our vision is to report on the African Luxury by projecting Nigerian brands.  We are constantly in search of indigenous luxury brands that will compete with international brands.  We believe this will contribute to the economic growth of Africa. At TLR, we don’t just want Nigeria to be a consumer of luxury but also the manufacturer of luxury products that can compete with their counterparts not just on the continent but globally,” she explained.

  • Why I launched Nigeria-Ghana Friendship Club — Runsewe

    THE Director General, National Council for Art and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Olusegun Runsewe,  has said the need to consolidate on the historical ties between Nigeria and Ghana informed his decision to  recently  launched the Nigerian, Ghana Friendship Club.

    He said the friendship club is intended to strengthen the bilateral and cultural relationship between both counties and bring its citizens closer, adding that it is high time the African continent came together and put their differences aside particularly Nigeria and Ghana.

    Runsewe noted that newly launched friendship club will be the first in Africa that will leave a legacy for unborn Ghanaians and unborn Nigerians to borrow a leaf from and work in harmony.

    “Nigeria and Ghana have been together for a long time. We are brothers and sisters meant to keep the long relationship between both countries going. The time has come for this continent, particularly Nigeria and Ghana to come together and sort out their differences.

    “With the launch of this club, we are going to have a new thinking between Ghana and Nigeria. We will have stronger ties better than what we used to have. This day marked a new beginning for both countries, the unborn Ghanaians and unborn Nigerians will come to meet this friendship with peace and nothing can separate Nigeria and Ghana,” he said.

    Ghana’s Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dr Ziblim Barri Iddi, who was also at the event, said the Nigeria, Ghana friendship predates time and needed to be strengthened.

    “This is a great day for Ghana and Nigeria. This friendship predates all of and it will supersede and continue to grow from strength to strength,”he said.

    The crowd roared in appreciation and approval. It was like a late goal in keenly contested football match and everyone went into jubilation and excitement about Nigeria, Ghana Friendship Club. It became instant toast and broke into a song on the streets of beautiful Accra.

    He further said: “It is done, I told myself as we headed out to our embassy at Roman Ridge where Runsewe was received with much reverence and awe by top embassy officials who stood in for Ambassador Olufemi Akitoye who was on an official assignment outside Ghana.”

    To cement the gesture, Runsewe donated brochures and other critical promotional materials on Nigeria culture and tourism to help the embassy promote and market the numerous socio economic and cultural endowments of Nigeria.

  • Boeing to pay $100m to families of crash victims, others

    Families of Nigerians who died in the Ethiopian Airlines crash and other victims of Boeing 737 MAX  deadly crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia are to receive monetary compensation from Boeing, manufacturers of the ill-fated planes.

    The multiyear payout is independent of lawsuits filed by families of the 346 people killed in the two crashes, which happened in October 2018 and March of this year, a Boeing spokesman said.

    The funds will not go direct to the families, but will be given to local governments and non-profit organizations to help families with education and living expenses and to spur economic development in affected communities.

    Boeing also said it will match any employee donations through December.

    “The families and loved ones of those on board have our deepest sympathies, and we hope this initial outreach can help bring them comfort,” said Boeing Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg.

    Dozens of lawsuits have been filed against Boeing by families of Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines crash victims. The company is in settlement talks over the Lion Air litigation and has separately offered to negotiate with families of Ethiopian Airlines victims, although some families have said they are not ready to settle.

    Wednesday’s cash pledge comes as Boeing faces probes by global regulators and U.S. lawmakers over the development of the 737 MAX.

    The company has been criticized for what some have seen as a clumsy response to the crashes. Muilenburg and other executives have said safety is Boeing’s priority and have vowed to learn from the crashes.

    The 737 MAX was grounded worldwide in March, after the second crash. Boeing is working on a fix for software that has been identified as a common link in both crashes, which must be approved by U.S. air regulators before the 737 MAX can fly again.

  • The days Nazareth stood still

    From Mount Precipice, located outside the southern edge, the ancient city of Nazareth spreads out like a painting on canvas. At night, the picturesque view transforms into thousands of tiny shiny light like stars in the sky. The mountain has made history and has also seen history being made. It was here, according to the Bible, an irate mob attempted to throw Jesus Christ down the cliff.

    THE ancient town of Nazareth, with majority Muslim population, for two days, Sunday, June 23 and Monday, June 24, was agog as people from more than 50 countries of the world stormed the birth place of Jesus for a Christian religious programme tagged: “Nazareth Meeting T.B.Joshua”. The event was held at the newly constructed amphitheatre on Mount Precipice.

    More than 50 luxury and sprinter buses were put to use, conveying people to and fro the mountain. Tens of police personnel and private security providers were also on hand to ensure there was no breakdown of order. Vehicles were parked kilometres away from Mount Precipice, while every visitor assessed the mountain using the bus shuttle. Due to well organized logistics, there was no breach whatsoever.

    Although it was a 4pm to 8pm programme, as early as 11 am, many were already at the entrance of amphitheatre at the mountain top waiting for the gate to open.

    The Mount Precipice amphitheatre, built and donated to the town  by Prophet TB Joshua and his Emmanuel TV partners, has a capacity of 40,000. It was filled with equally thousands sitting on the plastic chairs provided at the overflow.

    Prophet TB Joshua’s message was titled: We Are Known By Our Love. He urged the congregation to love one another irrespective of religion or race and that love comes from God.

    His words: “God measures our love for Him and for our neigbour. Any one who does not love his fellow man cannot love God whom he has not seen. This is His command: whoever loves God must also love his fellow man.

    “How do you access love, by the practical things in our lives. We assess our love for God by the number of times lovingly think of Him daily, by the degree of hunger we have to read His word. The more we love Him, the more precious His word will become.”

    The climax of each day’s programme was the prayer line where thousands of people from different continents with different  diseases were prayed upon.

    The very well organized programme with very tight security and excellent crowd management also saw many natives of Nazareth among the crowd. The natives and tourists trooping to the town to see the birth place of Jesus, were confessing seeing the manifestation of the power in the name of Jesus Christ.

    One of the natives at the event, Roger Wakim, a Christian Arab and a member of the Mother Church of the Holy Spirit in Nazareth Illit summed up the experience. “This is the experience when Jesus was on earth in Israel. He was sent to start ministering at the age of 30. For three and half years he was casting out demons and healing the sick. Deliverance and healing go side by side. Whenever there is deliverance, there will healing.”

    Once of those who testified receiving their healing was Pastor Gregory Englert, an Indian based missionary.  He said: “I was hit  by a car. From then on, I started to have headache; my neck would go out of place and my back would go out of place, things like that. I started treating the ailment, but the treatments only give me temporary relief. It would periodically come back. It would leave and then come back. So, that was the problem. I also had some breathing problem, allergies and so on. It was glorious to come here.”

    Asked why he decided to travel to Israel, he said: “I have read testimonies; I have equally seen people that go to Prophet T. Joshua crusades. They get the results that they’ve been looking for, or they will get the answers and reasons for certain things in their lives and the solutions. Whatever the problem, it will come to a grinding halt. So, I wanted to come here. I have attended many prayer conferences without getting the solution, but if there was any chance, I would have gone to Lagos, Nigeria because thousands go weekly in and out. I had to get a letter of invitation. So, this opportunity came. Just a week ago, I was there in the United Kingdom and I told God I would love to attend this event.  And he made this a reality.”

    The Mayor of Nazareth, Mr. Ali Salam, said the visit and meeting of Prophet T.B. Joshua supports the city economically. His words: “This visit supports the city economically and some defeated politicians in the recent electoral battle, who are trying in vain for relevance, are now working to impede my work on peace. In order to support their weak position, they claim I receive and praise those who claim prophecy.

    “If you want to fight for peace, fight with funds not lies and fabrications. The people of the city will not fall into the trap you are trying to build. They love the mayor who works day and night to raise the city economically, culturally, ethnically and educationally.”

    Throughout the two-day meeting on Mount Precipice, there was no protest, no security breach and no accident.  The mountain has made history, and has also watched history being made.  It was on this mountain, the Bible recorded, that mob attempted to throw Jesus Christ from the cliff.

  • NAHCON constitutes task force on visa violation

    As part of measures to halt the occurrence of some pilgrims over-staying their visa permit while on Hajj, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria-NAHCON has established a task force with the directive of being pre-emptive of culprits. Membership was drawn from various security agencies and NAHCON staff.

    Similarly, the commission has also concluded a three-day induction training and inauguration of staff committees charged with the responsibility of monitoring service providers of Nigerian pilgrims in both Makkah and Madinah.

    While inaugurating the committees in Abuja, NAHCON Chairman, Barrister Abdullahi Mukhtar Muhammad, admonished members on some issues necessary for the comfort of pilgrims. These include allocating rooms and getting them ready before arrival of pilgrims; that they must not be allowed to stay for long in hotel reception upon arrival. Similarly, there must not be overcrowding in rooms and pilgrims must not be served unwholesome meals or fruits.

    Read Also: Fact Check: Does Plateau have the lowest Hajj Fare apart from Adamawa in the north?

    He also enjoined the committees to ensure that there was no breach of contract on the part of any service provider, and where such occurs, the providers must be sanctioned appropriately. He drew their attention to the matters of accommodation security, sanitation, provision of toiletries and constant changing of beddings.

    The chairman urged members of the respective committees to always discharge their duties diligently and not to compromise the pilgrims’ well-being.

    Committees inaugurated included feeding and accommodation in Makka and Madinah, hand luggage monitoring, tents and Masha’er, Turadudiyya (Transportation), among others.