Assessing Duke’s one year at tourism ministry
Convinced by the necessity of communicating government policies and programmes to citizens with a view to mobilizing them to participate, the Ministry, through the National Orientation Agency has started the ‘DO THE RIGHT THING, TRANSFORM NIGERIA’ campaign. The Minister believes that this campaign is the heart of the Transformation Agenda because it is a nation’s […]
Convinced by the necessity of communicating government policies and programmes to citizens with a view to mobilizing them to participate, the Ministry, through the National Orientation Agency has started the ‘DO THE RIGHT THING, TRANSFORM NIGERIA’ campaign. The Minister believes that this campaign is the heart of the Transformation Agenda because it is a nation’s human capital that lubricates and drives her engine of ideas. This campaign was recently launched by President Jonathan and its jingles are already on the airwaves. To demonstrate seriousness the Ministry attaches to this campaign, it was a major focal point of Chief Duke’s presentation at the Ministerial Platform.
Other orientation programmes initiated or advanced in the last one year include radio and television series on democracy, value reorientation, peace education and social justice, interactive multimedia platforms, peace and security campaigns in schools, political and civic education, environmental education and Citizens Responsibility Volunteer Scheme.
A good national and international image is necessary for the promotion of tourism and, by extension, Nigeria. This informed the decision of the Minister to design a new tourism identity for Nigeria, with the catchphrase “Fascinating Nigeria”. This identity which highlights tourism and business opportunities in Nigeria will be promoted on local and international media. This will not only open up more of the opportunities in the country to prospective investors and tourists, it will also put Nigeria on the global tourism map as a destination of choice. To achieve this, a number of tourism development policies have been put in place in the last one year. These include the commencement of first phase implementation of the National Tourism Development Master plan, endorsement and support for many tourism and culture promotion initiatives with the private sector under the Public Private Partnership arrangement.
A World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) 2011 Report indicates that travel and tourism development policies put in place by the Nigerian Government in the last one year have been yielding positive results. The WTTC Report puts the contribution of tourism to Nigeria’s GDP in 2011 at N1, 232.2 billion or 3.3% of total GDP. The same sub-sector generated 1, 774 jobs or 2.9% of total employment in 2011.
Economic empowerment of citizens, especially at the grassroots, is also the fulcrum of President Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda. Using indigenous cultural technology to achieve this, the Ministry has established more craft development and skill acquisition centres to serve as platforms for training and retraining of craftsmen and women. These Centres are located in Lagos, Bauchi, Kano, Osogbo and Ikare in Ondo State; construction of two new ones in Taraba and Borno states commenced in 2011. Beyond this, markets are also being created for their products at the local and international levels. For instance, the 5th African Arts and Craft Expo, an international arts and craft market, organized by the Ministry which took place at the Eagle Square in Abuja and brought producers, marketers and investors of arts and crafts from the 36 states of the Federation and 13 African countries as participants.
Nigerian artists are also not left out. On assumption of duty, Edem Duke, had directed the National Gallery of Arts to increase local and international opportunities for artists to train, exhibit and market their works. To further encourage them, the Minister has made it a matter of policy to either personally attend or send representatives to exhibitions to which he is invited.
Edem Duke has also, in the last one year, paid special attention to the country’s museums. A new museum, located within the Mbari Centre was opened in Owerri on the 19th of December 2011. The Minister is also giving immense support to the review and updating of the Management Plan for Nigeria’s first World Heritage Site, the Sukur Cultural Landscape in Sukur, Adamawa State with a view to drawing visitors, tourists and scholars, as it is with other UNESCO Heritage Sites around the world. On repatriation of objects stolen in Nigeria, one of such simply identified as Esie was intercepted in Paris, France and efforts are on to ensure that this important artifact is returned to Nigeria.
Cultural Diplomacy is also an area the Minister is strengthening. This is premised on the fact that international relations flourish in an atmosphere of intercultural understanding and appreciation. The Ministry’s Department of Culture and the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization have increased activities in this area in the last one year. CBAAC’s local and international conferences and its other activities are geared towards preserving and propagating Black and African cultural values especially in the Diaspora. Cultural diplomacy has resulted in some countries inviting Nigeria to open Cultural Centres in their countries in addition to the one already functioning in Salvador Bahia, Brazil.
The seriousness and focus of plans to transform the National Theatre into a world class entertainment and business centre by the Minister is also glaving. As a result, expressions of interest have been received and once the details of these are finalized and work commences in and around the edifice, Nigerians will begin to see a transformed National Theatre that will create jobs for many citizens and bringing huge revenue for Government.
And the Abuja Carnival 2012 will, in accordance with democratic norms and international best practice, be taken to the people through the creation of neighbourhood carnival bands in order to achieve greater public participation and give citizens direct access to the economic benefits of the annual event.
Dr Oladokun is media aide to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation