Tourism Minister urges Nigerians to explore nation’s cultural heritage for wealth creation

The Minister of Tourism, Mrs Lola Ade-John urges Nigerians to uphold and take pride in Nigeria’s vast cultural heritage.

Ade-John made the call during the 2024 edition of King Kosoko Memorial Lecture, with the theme “The Lagos Economy in the Era of King Kosoko: A Tale of Prosperity and the Decline,” held.

The event, which was held in Lagos, also featured a book launch entitled “King Kosoko, His Life, His People and His Settlements”, written by the current Oloja Elect of Lagos, Prince Abiola Kosoko.

The Minister said upholding the nation’s cultural heritage such as that of late King Kosoko of Lagos, was quite important to create wealth.

She said this could be done by spurring local and international tourists to learn and experience late Kosoko’s legacies as well as other past great leaders in Nigeria.

“Today, we honour the enduring legacy of King Kosoko. I am filled with pride and gratitude.

“Today, we are custodians of history. It is our duty to ensure that the stories of our ancestors, their triumphs and struggles are never lost.

“Let this event be a call to Nigerians everywhere, to embrace our heritage with pride and to invite the world to witness the wonder that is Lagos and the magic that is Nigeria,” she said.

The minister said that Nigeria’s vast culture and tourism potential remained largely untapped.

She said research revealed that in 2019, tourism contributed nearly 5 per cent to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product with just over 1.2 million international visitors.

“Imagine what these figures would look like if our 200 million plus population buy into the idea of domestic travel.

“Lagos, rich in culture and history, leads this growth. Initiatives like this serve as beacons that can attract even more to our shores.

“The possibilities are endless if we fully tap into the potential of our over 1,000 assets and over 800 festivals.

“As we leave today, let King Kosoko’s spirit, his courage, vision and love for his people inspire us. I hope this will drive our passion to make Nigeria a global cultural destination,” she said.

Earlier, Prince Abiola Kosoko, the Oloja of Lagos Elect, said that the gathering was intentionally planned to pay tribute to the remarkable legacy of King Kosoko.

He described his progenitor as a visionary leader who shaped the economic landscape of Lagos state.

According to him, the programme is aimed at exploring the highs and the lows of Oba Kosoko ‘s era to offer valuable insights into Lagos’s rich history.

“Let us come together to celebrate King Kosoko’s enduring impact on Lagos and explore the lessons of his era as a guide to the future,” he said.

The keynote speaker, Prof David Aworawo of the Department of History and Strategic Studies, University of Lagos xrayed the nature of the economy of Lagos state  during and after King Kosoko reign.

Aworawo said there was never a decline in the economy of the state as late Kosoko’s reign marked the beginning of a significant economic growth in the state.

He commended the Oloja Elect for keeping the memory of late Kosoko alive through different programmes.

“Before, during Kosoko and after, Lagos economy enjoyed a rise and rise progression. We need to be grateful to leaders across times who made contributions toward this growth

“We only need to beckon on the current leaders to intensify efforts and make the economy deep,” he said.

Late King Kosoko was the Oba of Lagos between 1845 and 1851. His insistence on the slave trade was the pretext for the 1851 British bombardment of Lagos, for which he went into exile in Epe.