Nigerian Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has assured that National Theater which has been under renovation, will be ready by October ending for the first United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Global Conference, an event to be held in Lagos from 14th to 16th November 2022.
Alhaji Mohammed who made this known at the Press Conference in Lagos for the forthcoming UNWTO Global Conference, appreciated Cappa D’Alberto and SANEF; the contractor and consultant, respectively, in charge of the renovation work at the National theater.
He said they have shown tremendous commitment by fast-tracking work in order to ensure that the spaces and facilities required for the conference are ready and available for use, adding that a total of nine hotels, including Eko hotels and suites which is the official hotel for the conference, have been designated to accommodate delegates.
The Minister also use this opportunity to invite relevant public and private sector stakeholders to be part of this important event by registering and participating in it.
“It is our collective and individual responsibility as Nigerians to ensure that we host a world class event, in a safe and secure environment, as promised by President Muhammadu Buhari when he visited the UNWTO headquarters in Spain earlier this year”, Alhaji Mohammed said.
According to him, “The right to host the event, which has as its theme ‘Linking Tourism, Culture and the Creative Industries: Pathways to Recovery and Inclusive Development,’ was given to Nigeria in 2021, at the 64th meeting of the UNWTO Commission for Africa (CAF) in Cape Verde.
“Since then we have started preparations for the event, inaugurating the Planning Committee which has since swung into action. A team from the UNWTO headquarters in Madrid, Spain, is currently in Nigeria on a preliminary mission for the conference.
“The team comprises the Director, Regional Department for Africa, Ms. Elcia Grandcourt, the Deputy Director, Regional Department for Africa, Mr. Jaime Mayaki and Communication expert for Africa, Mr Kojo Bentum.
Alhaji Mohammed revealed that the purpose of their mission, which is in line with Rules of the organization, is to inspect the facilities for the conference, which include the National Theater; which is the venue, the designated hotels, venue for social events and finally to receive briefs from the planning committee.
He further explained that on Friday, the team inspected the National theater and some of the designated hotels as well as the venue for the special programme on Nollywood.
“The team equally met with the Planning Committee. This morning, I received a comprehensive brief from the team and I am pleased to inform you that the team is very satisfied with level of Nigeria’s preparedness to host the global conference.
“As you are aware, the UNWTO is a specialized Agency of the United Nations that is globally responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accepted tourism. Nigeria’s membership of this important Organization spans almost five decades”.
The Minister who was happy to note that since joining the Organization in 1975, Nigeria has been consistent in its commitment to the activities of the Organization.
Stated further that the hosting right, once again demonstrates confidence of the Organization and its member states in Nigeria and its capacity to host such an important and huge conference. “This will mark the fifth time that Nigeria will be hosting members states of the UNWTO.
Alhaji Mohammed highlighted that the Conference is expected to witness participation of delegates from the 166 member states of the UNWTO, which will include but not limited to the following: UNWTO top executive and Officials and experts led by the Secretary General;
Ministers and Officials from Tourism, Culture and Arts Ministries of member states; National Tourism and Culture Organizations; International Organizations and destination Management Organizations; Stakeholders from the public and private sector, civil society working on tourism, cultural and the creative industries; and the media and creative economy.
Also, in the framework of the conference, the programmes and activities will include: Two parallel experts’ workshops. Seminar on tourism and the creative industries. Conference on linking tourism, culture and the creative industries. Exhibitions on gastronomy, fashion, movie, music, visual arts, etc and A special programme on the creative industries- ‘A Day with Nollywood’.
He said the forthcoming conference will address the current challenges and ways in which member states can tap into emerging opportunities to speed up global economic recovery from Covid-19.
“It will also be a unique networking opportunities for key industry players, practitioners, public and private sector policy makers to debate on contemporary and future issues as well as exchange ideas and information relating to tourism, culture and the creative industries”.
The Minister quoted UNWTO, saying “tourism is an activity in which the visitor’s essential motivation is to learn, discover, experience and consume the tangible and intangible attractions/ products in a destination’.
‘It has positive socio-economic impact, builds image, preserves cultural/ historical heritage and facilitates harmony, understanding among people.
‘The Organization also described the Creative Industries, which include advertising, architecture, arts and crafts, design, fashion, film, video, photography, music, performing arts, publishing, research & development ad well as radio and television, as the lifeblood of the creative economy and a growth driver for sustainable development’.
Alhaji Mohammed noted that tourism sector creates one out of every 10 jobs, while the creative industries generate around 30 million jobs, mostly for the youth and women who constitute nearly half of the workers and accounts for 6.1% of global GDP.