Economic Viability Needed To Promote Culture And Tourism In Nigeria – Mrs. Odusote

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, has stated that to promote Nigeria’s cultural heritage and tourism potentials, there was need to facilitate the economic viability of cultural industries in Nigeria.

Stating this in a Stakeholder’s Meeting recently at the Conference Room, Block A, Federal Secretariat Phase II, Abuja, Mrs. Odusote said it was also important to effectively manage the cultural centres built by the Ministry, across the six geo-political zones in the country.

Mrs. Odusote, who was represented in the meeting by a Director of Culture in the Ministry, Alhaji Muktar Abdulkadir, assured that there will be sustainability of the Cultural Centres, noting that the meeting was aimed at coming out with modalities to encourage the development of cultural enterprises for employment generation and wealth creation, in line with Transformation Agenda of the President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration.

The Permanent Secretary added that because cultural diversity is a rich asset, for individuals and societies, its promotion in Nigeria was very necessary, as it was an essential requirement for sustainable development, which benefits present and future generations in any society.

Observing that unlike developed economies, a lot of potentials could be exploited in a developing nation, like Nigeria, she explained that: “It is this that informed the creation of Cultural Centres by the Ministry, as a rallying point for cultural entrepreneurs, service providers, enthusiasts and consumers of cultural products and services, to facilitate the sustainable development of the cultural industry in Nigeria. The Cultural Centres are designed to be centres of excellence in vocational skill acquisition, cultural products exhibition and exchange between the states and zones, where they are located.”

The cultural stakeholders present in the meeting were parastatals in the Ministry: National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), represented by the duo of Mrs. Maria Opuzor and Mr. Segun Adegbaju, Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC), National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), National Orientation Agency (NOA), National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), National Planning Commission (NPC), UNESCO, and Association of Fashion Designers, among others.

Nwagbo Nnenyelike
Corporate Affairs