Tourism summit: Matters arising

The Tourism Summit organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism has come and gone. Indeed, the 3 – day event held between April 27 to 29 did not live up to its billing considering the much needed desire and expectation reposition tourism as an economic game changer. The issue is not that tourism cannot deliver and provide alternate source of revenue and employment but the quality of ideas and road – maps flaunted at the summit, some very obsolete without bearing of where we are, and what can be done “Now” to salvage the scourge of youth unemployment and create a new revenue generation platform.

In all, most of the papers presented dwelt on sentimental historical excursions, obsolete statistics and empty oratory showmanship and crass exhibition of jaundiced global examples that hardly relates in content and context to our tourism situation. As a matter of fact, the audience gave more quality insights than the “Official experts” paraded as discussants and presenters. Going through the official communiqué, there is nothing to prove that this government has the magic wand to take tourism to the next level, a situation that actually and indeed robbed the summit of the expected gains – the tourism jobs. The question of tourism jobs and other critical gains of the sector were left unanswered as what you are about to read, is the body language of an unprepared government and its various tourism agencies.

President Buhari Not Tourism Friendly

Industry stakeholders and tourism journalists had expected the President who was billed as special guest of honor at the event to come out “Smoking” with incentives, new paradigms and policy directives to restructure the sector and make Nigeria the preferred destination in Africa but nothing of such happened. He was represented by Industry, Trade and Investment minister, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah who appeared to be in hurry to deliver the President’s Opening remarks and bolted away after. Actually that was what Dr. Enelamah did as he failed to fill the gap since his portfolio of Trade and Investment is also tourism driven. It was noted as a negative indication that Buhari’s administration is not truly out to make any economic sense with tourism and Culture. 

Soyinka Dreams of Good Old Days

Africa’s first Noble Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, represented by Dr. Wale Adediran, took on the president on the Killing Culture in the Country which is in itself is a drawback for any tourism boom in the country. He recalled that “Internal” (domestic) tourism was once a huge premium asset, economically and for unification gains but regrets that such tourist exploration evidenced in sixties may not be repeated today as this “Leadership” has not shown enough courage to curb rampaging herders and other acts of brigand.

Sadly, the Minister and his egg heads did not see the Noble Laureate as a veritable culture Icon and domestic tourism premium asset for political orientation, visits, and knowledge value chain. The homes of Late Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu in Soweto are top places of Visit for first timers to South Africa. How many Nigerians visit Prof. Wole Soyinka’s home or President Obasanjo Hill Top Palace in Abeokuta? Another unanswered Summit question.

Lai Mohammed; The Consummate Tourism Student

He sat through the 3 – day event, dashing out once in awhile to attend other pressing engagements but always on hand to his listen to his tourism experts (teachers). Honesty, I couldn’t stomach some of the presentations and contributions but the Minister sat through all. He only intervened to clear some issues such as the disgraceful intention of his predecessor High Chief Edem Duke to sell the National Theater.

Twice during the Plenary, Lai Mohammed restated the resolve of his Ministry to reverse that Ugly decision and was very emphatic about it, “National Theater is not for sale”  but again, he did not say anything about the new National Theater in Cross-River to which appropriation were made and released during Duke’s tenure. However, I am sure Lai Mohammed as a tourism student, must be very confused on the way forward as his “experts” spoke more of personal glory than creating tourism jobs. Indeed, the Minister’s resort to setting up committee to re-appraise the communiqué is an indication that the summit is far from hitting the bully’s eye on tourism for Nigeria’s tomorrow.

A Summit of tourism Job Seekers’

It is expected that heads will roll in all tourism and Culture agencies under the ministry in no distant future so the summit was an ample opportunity for potential Directors – General “materials” and their sponsors to show case themselves. From their presentations and contributions at the event, these tourism job seekers, dressed and employed oratory and jaundiced research findings to outclass each other. The Minister indeed took note as some of us did from our vintage position at the main hall gallery of Nicon Hilton Abuja. Their prancing were shameful and I pray the minister do not fall for their so called “Expertisim” it is all fake; they are all tourism carpet baggers.

When the Head(s) are Bad?

There is no denying the fact that all the DG’s in the Tourism and Culture Ministry are counting their days at their duty posts. All of them simply kept low profile at the event and hardly made any notice able appearances except for the “See me” prancing from one of them that made the Nigerian flag a costume. Chika Balogun, the unassuming and brilliant lady at Tourism Training Institute kept to herself, ditto Ferdinand Anikwe of CEBAAC, Centre for Black and African Culture, Dayo Kesi of National Council for Arts / Culture, holed up at her exhibition stand, Dr. Baclays Ayakoroma lead the communiqué team and Mallam Yusuf Abdullahi of National Commission for Museum and Monuments (NCMM) hid away the crowd. The signs that they all are on their way out was hush-hush as the summit itself is an indictment as most of them did nothing to address the poor state of the industry.

Return of Dr. Adalikwu

Paul Adalikwu now a director of strategy at the Ministry of labour used to be one of us in tourism. In fact, he was the man Friday to former Minister Edem Duke until they went their separate ways on account of the management of tourism Sure-P fund. Dr. Paul Adalikwu was a major discussant at one of the plenary and we had a chat later after the event. Is Dr. Adalikwu, now appointed by Minister Lai Mohammed to head the Review of the summit communiqué, coming back to his Original fort? My friend, George Ufot, Director of Culture at the Ministry did not proffer an answer but I can smell a comeback bid.

Why Nollywood Actors and Films will not make Oscar

Veteran Culture exponent, Frank Aig – Imoukhuede slammed the poor acting and films rolled out from Nollywood, noting that despite their huge rich showing in Africa, they cannot win the converted Oscar awards. At the sidelines of his presentation, Mr. Imoukhuede warned Nollywood stakeholders to brace up for challenge from South Africa and Ghana film makers and actors who are engaging the needed expectation of film industry in Africa.

Recreations, A Tale of the Chosen and Multitude

Lunch break during the event was a mad house. I couldn’t stand the rush as hunger in land manifested as both the invited and uninvited made a rush for the lunch table. I had kept away from the opening feast, took off during the lunch date on the second day and decided after much prodding and persuasion from George Ufot, Director of Culture to dine at the minister table. With a yellow “Gold” card, the minister’s lunch table was open to a select few “Big wigs”, resource persons and DG’s while the blue Card admits the Multitude. It was a summit fallout which was against global tourism norms and ethnics that empowers every man to an equal opportunity to dine and wine anywhere, any place.