Create sole ministry for tourism, culture — FTAN tells President-elect
The Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) recently urged the incoming President, Sen. Bola Tinubu, to create a ministry for tourism and culture, once he assumes office.
FTAN President, Mr Nkereuwem Onung made the call in Abuja during a creative stakeholder’s meeting organised by the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC).
The meeting had as its theme: “Culture, Peace and National Rebirth: An Agenda Setting.”
Onung said that it is important to separate the tourism and culture industry from information to give room for growth in the creative sector.
According to him, tourism and culture industry would have thrived better if separated from the ministry of information as currently obtained.
“I want to seize this opportunity to plead with the incoming president to separate the ministry of information from culture and tourism.
“We want a standalone ministry for tourism and culture so that proper attention can be given to the creative space, such that will engender remarkable growth.
“The combination of culture and information has hindered the growth of the culture and tourism industries over the years because more attention has been drawn toward information so much.
“We also plead that individuals appointed to head government parastatals within the tourism and culture industries should be made accountable while in office to ensure growth, novices should not be engaged,” he said.
Also National President, National Association of Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP), Mr Israel Eboh harped on the need for the incoming President to work unanimously with stakeholders in the culture and tourism industry, to ensure that the nation’s cultural values were upheld.
Eboh noted that the problems confronting the nation in terms of lack of unity is due to the fact that Nigerians have lost their cultural values.
He, however, called on the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) to wake up to their responsibilities of upholding the nation’s cultural values.
“Agenda setting is absolutely necessary as we move into the next administration.
“The incoming administratiom needs to pay attention to all elements of our culture, in storytelling, dancing, songs and all.
“NOA, NICO and other cultural parastatals need to be deliberate and systematic in cultural re-orientation in the incoming administration,” he said.
Television analyst, Babajide Kolade-Otitoju, urged Nigerians generally to be totally committed to building a better nation in view of culture collapse the nation is experiencing.
Kolade-Otitoju also advised the President-elect to reduce cost of governance to make remarkable progress in nation-building.
He noted that if Nigeria could have three good successive leaders, the nation would be great again.
