The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Culture and Tourism

  • Oyo Governor’s aide charges workers on efficiency, productivity

    Oyo Governor’s aide charges workers on efficiency, productivity

    Dr Gbade Ojo, the Chief of Staff to Oyo State Governor, has called on civil servants in the state to redouble their efforts for higher productivity in 2018.

    Ojo said this in Ibadan on Tuesday while speaking on expectations from civil servants as they resumed from the New Year holiday.

    He implored the workers to treat clients and callers at their offices as kings to achieve successful implementation of government’s programmes.

    Dr (Mrs) E. F. Fasona, the Director, Administration and Supplies, Ministry Information, Culture and Tourism also advised workers to embrace positive attitude to work.

    ‘‘As workers, we must be productive and efficient. We must embrace effective ways of discharging our duties as well as remain loyal to the organisation,’’ she said.

    Read also: Workers resume in Anambra after holidays

    Fasona said that majority of the workers celebrated the New Year indoors as a result of the fuel scarcity experienced across the country.

    She commended government’s efforts at addressing the situation, noting that normalcy had returned to the filling stations and the products were being sold at affordable rates.

    Fasona called on the Federal Government to put in place proactive measures that would forestall future occurrence.

    Reports say that some workers were found conducting prayer sessions for peace and stability of the country.

    The workers, who displayed a high level of enthusiasm to work, called on the government to prioritise their welfare in the 2018 budget.

    NAN

  • Enuanwa is BAIP’s Miss tourism international 2017

    Enuanwa is BAIP’s Miss tourism international 2017

    After a keenly contested competition, University of Ilorin Theatre Arts graduate, Enuanwa Blessing has been crowned Miss Tourism International Nigeria, 2017.

    She defeated 35 other girls to emerge the winner, of The Beauty of Africa International pageant (BAIP) 2017.

    Speaking shortly after she was crowned, the stunned Queen said; “I am so happy. Words cannot describe my joy. I want to dedicate my victory to God first, my family, my friends, my fans and all those who voted for me. My Pet project is going to be geared towards creating awareness about the dangers of domestic violence.I want to

    I want to especially appreciate the Judges for selecting me as the winner for this year BAIP 2017 contest, and to Mr. Daniel Opuene, the President of the BAIP, for accepting the Judges decisions and giving me this great 0pportunity to wear the most prestigious and most expensive crown in Africa.”

    Currently, in its 11th edition, the pageant seeks to promote African unity by redefining the African narrative through initiatives geared towards empowering the youths.

    In attendance were RT. Hon. Muyiwa Oladipo, Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Ogun State; Mr. Andrea Pompermaier, the Consulate General Italian Embassy Nigeria; Representatives from the US Embassy, Nigeria and Kola Ayanwale, MD. Centrespread and a host of others.

    On hand to entertain were a comedienne, Helen Paul, Gordons and Sound Sultan while the event was anchored by Basorge Taria.

  • We are still negotiating release of Chibok girls – Minister

    We are still negotiating release of Chibok girls – Minister

    • Our demands unchanged-BBOG

    The Federal Government is still negotiating with Boko Haram for the release of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls and other abductees, Minister for Information, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said on Tuesday.

    He spoke during a briefing following an intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operation to the Sambisa forest.

    “Negotiations for the release of the girls have never stopped. In a situation like this, we use the carrot and stick approach.

    “Even the success of the military also helped fast track the process of the negotiation for those who were released.

    “The negotiation is complicated, delicate and changes from time to time, but we are on still talking and we are near breakthrough,” he said.

    The trip to Sambisa was organised for the leaders of the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) group to acquaint them with efforts by the military to find the Chibok girls and end the war on the insurgency.

    “This government has nothing to hide; that is why we have brought you here so you can have a first-hand experience. We want to let the world know what we have been doing not only to recover the girls but also to end the insurgency,” Mohammed said.

    But the leader of the BBOG and former Minister of Education Dr Oby Ezekwesili said though the group had learnt some lessons about the workings of the military, its demand still remained.

    “We have learnt that the Nigerian Air Force is working to generate the information that supports the Army to ensure the security of the theatre of war.

    “By joining the NAF to do ISR day and night, we saw what it looks like to embark on a search for targets like the abducted Chibok girls. It also helps to frame the question we have been asking, we leave here to say the Federal Government should be able to say what strategic decision should be taken.

    “Negotiations led to the highest yield of 21 girls, four came back after the military raided their bases, that is, they either escaped or were found after the raid.

    “It becomes a strategic question, we will hold the Federal Government accountable to a decision on what options work better for our girls and others.

    “The information has empowered and enriched our demand, the Minister for Information has given the assurance that 80 girls would be part of a batch based on negotiation, we will keep asking for that,” she said.

    The former minister also said knowing how important it is for the military to be equipped; the group will continue to call for the prosecution of all who have mismanaged military hardware funds.

    “Imagine what would have happened if the whole money has been spent on buying the equipment, we are more empowered to demand sanctions.”

    She praised the NAF on the innovative use of technology saying it makes the efforts to be precise.

    She also called for improved transparency in the conduct of the war on insurgency saying for as long as the war was prosecuted as a propaganda mission, there will be criticism and cynicism.

    She praised the “strong commitment” of the troops saying the group has always been supportive of the efforts of troops.

    “As citizen activists, we shall remain the voice, we will hold the government accountable to its promise to rescue the Chibok girls and others,” she said.

    The BBOG leader also sought clarification on the capture of Camp Zairo. She said a proper understanding of Sambisa is necessary for Nigerians to put the capture of the Camp in perspectives.  In a clarification, the information minister said the capture of Camp Zairo is a strike at the heart of the insurgent. “When you strike Camp Zairo, you completely disorient the insurgents, but it does not mean the end of the campaign.

  • Oyo to prosecute tax defaulters

    Oyo to prosecute tax defaulters

    The Oyo State Internal Revenue Service (OYIRS), has vow to commence the prosecution of tax evaders and offenders in the state from Wednesday, August 17, 2016.

    The Special Adviser of the Board for Oyo State‎ Internal Revenue Services, Biyi Oloko who was accompanied by the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Toye Arulogun disclosed this on Thursday while addressing journalist in Ibadan.

    Oloko said:” The Oyo State Internal Revenue Service has now put in place a data bank on tax defaulters and is now embarking on an enforcement and prosecution drive that will take full advantage of the provisions of the tax laws to apprehend and prosecute tax defaulters. The Oyo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice will through a Rapid Tax Prosecution Process commence prosecution of tax defaulters in Oyo State without further notice.

    “The Oyo State government through the Oyo State Internal Revenue Service (OYIRS), has put all the necessary machineries in place to ensure the enforcement of the tax laws and wishes to advise all erring taxpayers to comply forthwith and ensure immediate payment of any outstanding taxes, fines and levies. The full weight of the law will be brought to bear on taxable persons who fail to comply.”

    According to him, the government has set up a joint enforcement team with the local government in order to ensure a harmonised approach to the enforcement of the tax laws of both the State and local government.

    Also, in order to block leakage in revenue collection, Oloko disclosed that the state government has adopted electronic collection of revenues ( POS) at all revenue points in the state.

    He urged all tax payers not to make any cash payments to any individual other than directly into the designated revenue accounts in any of the collecting banks.

    He reiterated that the state will continue to take full advantage of the provisions of the law to prosecute recalcitrant corporate organisations and individuals, stressing that all tax evaders and offenders, upon prosecution may be fined or imprisoned.

    He said:”‎ the administration of His Excellency, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, wishes to state that without revenue, all of those things that facilitate the progress, advancement and development of Oyo State will not be realised, for example, infrastructural developments like roads to ensure access to business sites, if the people of Oyo State do not have all the services that government is compelled to offer such as security, education and healthcare etc. then we cannot make progress and develop collectively.

    Oloko explained that OYIRS has over the past months, embarked on various advocacy and enlightenment programmes, for various stakeholder groups and took them through the essence of paying their taxes as at when due.

    “OYIRS has met with NURTW, Informal Sector associations including markets, mechanics, and artisans. We have also met with MAN, Organised Private Sector, professional bodies such as lawyers,  accountants  and surveyors.‎ We also wish to add that the tax types are as follows:

    Pay As You Earn (PAYE), DIRECT TAXATION, Withholding taxes for individuals, Capital Gains Tax for individuals, Stamp duties on instruments executed by individuals, Road tax, Business Premises Registration, Development lev for individuals‎, Right of Occupancy fees on lands owned by State Government, Land Use Charges” he said

    He thanked ‎the people of th state who have continually supported the administration of Governor Abiola Ajimobi through voluntary and prompt payment of their taxes.

  • FG to hold summit on culture and tourism

    FG to hold summit on culture and tourism

    As part of its economic diversification initiative, the Federal Government’s eye on the creative non-oil sector will, this April, focus on culture and tourism, through a three-day national summit, scheduled for April 27 to 29, 2016.

    Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, announced this in Abuja on Tuesday, while declaring open a Working Session between the Ministry of Information and Culture and the British Council on the planned collaboration between the two.

    The minister is optimistic that if properly harnessed, culture could be used to drive tourism as a viable GDP revenue stream.

    “As you are very much aware, a major plank of this administration’s policy is the diversification of the economy away from oil. To further this agenda, we in the Ministry of Information and Culture have been putting in place measures to fast track the diversification agenda in the Culture and Tourism Sectors.

    “One of such measures is to critically assess veritable avenues of using culture to drive tourism in order to achieve a significant boost in the vast tourism potentials of the country. In view of this, we are happy to announce that the Ministry will host a three-day National Summit on Culture and Tourism from April 27th to 29th,” he said.

    Alhaji Mohammed said that the summit, which has the theme, “Repositioning Culture and Tourism in a Diversified Economy,” would attract stakeholders in the culture and tourism sectors.

    He commended the British Council for its efforts in forging the partnership with the ministry in the culture sector.

    “Ahead of a formal partnership between this ministry and the British Council, we have convened this meeting, or working session if you like, to provide the platform for better understanding between us; discuss the proposed areas of collaboration as well as to agree on an implementation plan for delivery of the agreed areas under the partnership.

    “I am optimistic that this meeting will firm up our collaboration so that we can then have a comprehensive schedule of joint projects and the details of their implementation, especially regarding the areas to be handled by each partner,” the Minister added.

    Earlier, the British Council’s Country Representative, Ms. Connie Price, who led a five-member team, said the Working Session was aimed at understanding the ministry’s priorities in the area of Culture in order to facilitate an agreement on the specific actions to be implemented.

    The Minister is also expected to inaugurate a ministerial committee for the review of the Motion Picture Council of Nigeria (MOPICON), draft bill, an exclusive practitioners’ proposal which seeks to professionalise the Nigerian film industry.

  • Memo to Buhari on art, culture and tourism

    The resourcefulness and resolve of the leaders of the legacy parties that formed the APC in the face of phenomenal distractions and the attendant overwhelming victory of the party at the recently concluded polls, as well as the track records of the President-elect and the APC government in various states of the federation, all point to the fact that the long-awaited change for Nigeria is here. Change many Nigerians hope will rescue the economy from years of lack lustre policy implementation.

    There is no doubt that these are exciting times for Nigerians and giving them the desired change that will turnaround living and lifestyles calls for a   redefined strategy of governance, and critical appraisal of the various sectors of the economy. It must be done objectively, with a view to effectively diversify the economy in pursuance of the party’s manifesto and fulfilment of the yearnings and aspiration of the masses. It must also be with a sense of urgency that will take the country beyond the hackneyed accolade of being the biggest economy in Africa.

    As the incoming government takes giant strides, it must be noted that one of the sectors of the Nigeria economy that genuinely deserves a searchlight is Tourism. This is not only because of the rich resource endowment of the country, but also because of the capacity of the sector to significantly contribute to the economic well-being of Nigeria through creating jobs, and generate income to enhance the country’s GDP. With the daily upsurge in insurgency occasioned by poverty and unemployment, tourism is the industry with the panacea to impact poverty alleviation positively.

    The incoming administration can do this by moving away from the uncoordinated strategies of previous governments to develop the sector, and deploy strong political will to support the industry through policies that will eliminate all the critical constraints of the past. The best foot forward is the revisit of the Tourism Master Plan of 2000, as well as the various studies and recommendations to the past Presidential Council on Tourism, and use a fine-tuned instrument from these to evolve an industry that has the promise to play a critical role in nation building and development.

    A key component of this process that will facilitate the success of the industry should include: ensuring public sector leadership at all levels and segments of the sector, that have a sound understanding of  issues and complexities of the industry including the capacity to stimulate inter-governmental and public private sector networking and collaboration; monitor the impact of policies of other sector of the economy on Tourism at the various ties of government; institute and implement tourism product development, capacity building and manpower development. Accomplishing significant improvement in the sector will be accentuated if the government pursues a comprehensive programme for the sector that creates connectivity between local communities, various tiers and department, of government and regional institutions, as have been successfully done in East and Southern African countries with rewarding economic results.

    This time around, the role of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation should be redefined while Tourism in Nigeria must by deliberate and focused action of government be made to generate worthy economic return for all stakeholders, including local communities even as conservation of Nigeria’s cultural and environmental heritage is appropriately promoted through the instrumentality of Tourism.

  • Ajimobi’s aide donates library

    The Special Assistant to Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Culture and Tourism, Mr Kunmi Fakeye, has donated a fully equipped ultra library complex worth N5million to St Peters Cathedral Aremo, Ibadan, in memory of his late mother, Emily Oladebo Fakeye.

    During the presentation, Fakeye, described the project as one of the modest contributions of the family to the growth of education in the state and to support Sen Ajimobi’s aim to revitalise education sector in the state.

    He lamented the dearth of libraries in secondary schools, noting that in the past, virtually all secondary schools had functional libraries for students and teachers, a situation which she said enhanced reading culture in schools.

    Fakeye admonished the community to partner with the project by protecting the project, while students and teachers make good use of it.

    “We cannot over-emphasise the importance of reading. Reading transports a person from a location to other parts of the world without leaving that location. It gives one new ideas and ways to solving everyday challenges. It also makes one a better person. Reading drives away ignorance which impedes human progress,”he said.

    Earlier in his remark, the head of the Fakeye’s family, Mr Victor said the idea of the library project was conceived during the burial of their mother two years ago.

    He assured that the family will effectively maintain the library for the next five years.

    In his appreciation speech, the Bishop of Ibadan North Diocese, Rev Adewale Adebiyi, described Fakeye’s late mother as a model who natured her children in God’s way.

    According to him, we know that the library cost a fortune, but it cost nothing to the Fakeye family since it is for God’s work which will further enhance the reading culture in youths.

     

  • Collaborative meeting between Ministry of Culture and Tourism

    Collaborative meeting between Ministry of Culture and Tourism

  • Laws to strengthen cultural industry underway

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism, Senator  Hassan Barata, has  said the National Assembly will deploy necessary legislative tools to strengthen the cultural industry in Nigeria.

    He spoke at the closing of the Sixth edition of African Arts and Crafts Expo (AFAC), organised by the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC).

    He said legislation would make AFAC a rallying point that is second to none among arts and culture events in Africa.

    “AFAC is part of the tools through which the culture sector has entrenched itself as a major contributor to the nation’s drive for jobs creation and youth empowerment towards economic transformation.

    “It is, therefore, significant to note that AFAC has shown improvement in all parameters when compared to the previous ones.

    “With 17 countries coming into Abuja with over 250 exhibitors and officials from Africa and beyond, especially China, South Korea and Pakistan, it is a positive omen for Nigeria’s cultural diplomacy for Africa economic integration,’’ he said.