World Tourism Day 2022: Full text of Hon. Salifu Isah Idachaba’s speech

PROTOCOL:

It is with immense gratitude and deep sense of appreciation to the Almighty God that i welcome you all to this auspicious occasion of 2022 edition of World Tourism Day (WTD) Celebration in Kogi State.
We appreciate his Excellency the Executive Governor of Kogi state Alhaji Dr. Yahaya Adoza Bello, who has created the enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the confluence state of opportunities.

The United Nation World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) established in 1975, is the global apex body responsible for the regulation, development and promotion of World Tourism Day (WTD). It is being celebrated since 1980.

Tourism is one of the world’s most important economic sectors that employs large percentage of people and provides livelihoods to hundreds of million more. The celebration is to foster awareness of tourism’s social, cultural, political and economic values and the contribution of the sector towards reaching the sustainable development goals.

The event is also considered as a powerful Advocacy tool and resources to address global problems celebrate and reinforce achievements of all levels and educate the public on issue of concern.

In Kogi State, the World Tourism Day is marked to appreciate our diversity, our state beauty and spread awareness of the importance of tourism and its impact on our state economy.

The theme for this year celebration is “Rethinking Tourism”.

The theme underscores the potentials of tourism as re-imaging sector to enhance economic growth through the creation of more jobs for our youths and women, developing their potentials and accommodating new ideas to transform the sector and build a better tourism for all.

Tourism is being recognized as a crucial pillar of development. It has brought opportunities and it will continue to do more in-tandem with the governor blue print.

Kogi State is endowed with rich cultural heritage and tourism potentials that are both man-made and natural features spread across the state.

The Historical relics, monuments, confluence spot, mount-patti to mention but a few are some of the pride of Kogites. The State tourist sites need to be showcased to the world to woo tourists and investors. I, therefore wish to use this medium to announce to the world that this administration is willing and ready to partner with all serious investors to develop her tourism endowment.

In kogi state under the Administration of the Executive Governor, Alhaji Dr. Yahaya Adoza Bello , remarkable efforts has been made on how to revive the development of Historical relics and monuments for the state tourism sector to thrive.
Kogi State Tourism law has recently been signed into by Governor Yahaya Bello which empowers the State Tourism Board to effectively carry out their statutory mandate.
Rehabilitation and Restoration of some selected Historical sites in lokoja, kogi state capital with a view to enhancing tourism development in the State and also to attract both international, National and local tourists and travellers to kogi state.

The State Government Represented by Dr. Mrs Folashade Ayoade Arike PhD, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Golden City Engineering Consultancy Company Limited for the design and sourcing for the financing for the development of international Resort at mount patti, Nataco and Associated infrastructures in Lokoja, with the aim of developing the State’s Tourism potentials to include, Towers with helipads, Amusement parks, museum, cable cars from Nataco to mount patti, Boat cruise, 5- Star Hotels and Chalets among others.

Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello appointed and inaugurated A-9 nine man Kogi State Advisory intervention committee on culture and tourism to fast track the Historic and natural tourism potentials of Kogi State.
Some of these Historical sites are Lord Luguard Rest House on Mount Patti (1900-1914), European cemetery (1896AD), Location of British Flag Hoisting (1900 AD) and the Confluence point of Rivers Niger and Benue.

The Advisory intervention Committee on Culture and Tourism set up by His Excellency and chaired by Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, the Director General National Council for Arts and Culture has forwarded a comprehensive report to the Executive Governor for consideration. Other members of the committee are, the International renown Nike Okundaye of Nike Arts Gallery, CEO of Lacampagne Tropicana Resort, Wale Akinboboye, Dr. Runke Bello Phd Havard, the Strategist to Governor on investments and communications, Late Engr. Joseph Makonju of blessed memory and Mr. kehinde Quadri Adun of the African Union, the Kogi State commissioner for culture and Tourism, Hon. Salifu Isah Idachaba is the alternate chairman while Hon. Femi Bolaji, the SA to the governor on Culture and Tourism serves as the secretary.

All hands must be on deck by relevant stakeholders in the tourism sector in kogi state to push the sector forward.

Kogi State has a lot of Historical Relics and monuments with potentials to promote tourism and recreational activities.

There is every need for preservation, Rehabilitation and Restorations of our Historic sites and monument and also take statistical data of digital storage of Historical sites and monuments in kogi State for reference at any point in time, Preservation, based on their importance and confronting issues of dilapidation.

Rivers Niger and Benue are the two most prominent and economically important rivers in Africa, south of Sahara.
The two rivers passed through five (5) Countries in West and East Africa before reaching Nigeria.

The Confluence of the River, which is the meeting point, is at Lokoja, an ancient town that could as well be described as Nigeria’s nodal town as it is centrally located in the Nigeria Geographical land mass.

There are many and Cultural marks in the Town that could command tourist’s attention.

The Kogi State Government has made Efforts to develop river Niger and Benue with the building of confluence beach Hotel in 1999.
These effort needs to be sustained to facilitate the Exploration of the confluence.

Ecotourism like the development of the confluence can attract tourist internationally, Countries like Kenya and Brazil have also showed that Tourism can contribute significantly to a nation’s Economy, thus the need for Government to pay special attention.
We wish to put forward proposal to Kogi Advisory committee on Culture and Tourism to His Excellency, Alhaji Dr. Yahaya Adoza Bello that at Ganaja mini river port, a parcel of land can be developed into shopping Mall ,Service Station, terminal building and view center, from the river port, Tourist cruise boat to the point of confluence and back. Kogi Hotel and other Hotels in the state capital could readily complement this development.

At this juncture, I want to once again pledge the readiness of the Kogi State Ministry of Culture and Tourism towards promoting the rich potentials of the Sector in the Confluence State.
We have a cultural friendly Governor who is a talk and do personality, with his eagle’s eyes on every sectors of the State towards ensuring they are all developed.

With your cooperation, collaboration and commitment of all, we will get to our promise land.

I remain Hon. Salifu Isah Idachaba, Kogi State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism.

Thanking you all for listening and wishing you a happy World Tourism day celebration 2022.

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