The Federal Character Commission (FCC) has described the activities of the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, Mrs. Sally Mbanefo as a progressive phenomenon, capable of practically promoting Nigerian tourism and creating wealth for the people at the grassroots in the country.

Making the commendation during the One-day Sensitisation Workshop for the Chief Executive Officers, Directors of Human Resources and Administrators of Ministerial Departments and Agencies (MDAs), held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Auditorium, Ministry of Justice, Abuja, Dr. Iboko Imo Iboko, a federal commissioner and panel chairman for the presentation of the NTDC added that the domestic tourism promotion and development initiative of Mbanefo led administration was apt at this time.

“The activities of Sally Mbanefo within the first year in office clearly showed that she evidently understood the concept of tourism development and promotion with reference to development of economy and empowerment of the people of a nation.

“While her approach to achieving the domestic tourism development and promotion in Nigeria is apt, especially with the visit to traditional rulers, who are the custodian of our culture and heritage, domestic tourism promoters, tourist sites in the six geopolitical zones in the country with the aim of knowing their state and developing one site per zone. I believe, without any reasonable doubt, with Sally Mbanefo’s giant stride at promoting domestic tourism, Nigeria would begin to enjoy in great measure the enviable goodies of tourism while a good number of jobs would also be created at local governments,” Iboko said.

Sally Mbanefo, earlier in her paper presentation titled, “Promoting Domestic Tourism: Tool for National Economic Development,” described budgetary allocation as the major problem facing the corporation, which according to her, if solved, will enable the corporation to properly train its staff; regularly collaborate with the private sector operators in forging new ideas for the sector, and effectively market and promote Nigeria locally to boost domestic tourism.

The NTDC boss who enjoined Nigerians to visit the over 7,000 tourist sites and patronise the 4,279 hotels in the country stressed that, “Nigeria must put in place, mechanism through which benefits can be derived from all departures. The NTDC is coming up with a recommendation to government on how domestic tourism can benefit from this.

“Tourism can help us achieve the Nigeria of our dreams, not only for the present but also for generations to come. Therefore, I am appealing to big businesses and individuals to adopt tourist sites and develop them as part of their contributions to the development of domestic tourism in Nigeria.”

The Director General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) Mrs. Sally Mbanefo delivering a paper at the one day sensitization workshop with the theme “Development of Tourism through Adherence to the Federal Character Principle” recently held at Olusegun Obasanjo Auditorium , Ministry of Justice , Abuja.