Tourism stakeholders and Entrepreneurs have applauded the efforts of the Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) Mrs Sally Uwechue-Mbanefo for signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Cote d’Ivoire Tourism Board on Tourism to boost and develop domestic tourism across the African region.
This assertion was made known during Cote D’Ivoire Economic Forum held recently in Lagos State
Speaking at the event, Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation said “Our country needs to improve its production capacity and must invest in labour intensive sectors like tourism, agriculture and manufacturing. It is the only way to create jobs for the small and medium scale entrepreneurs, youth & women.
We have also been holding talks with Ghana tourism board as well as the South African tourism board. Two years ago we signedan MoU with the Gambia Tourism board soon as we signed the MoU, the first batch of my staff were approved for training & best practice exchange. We will not stop until we achieve a West African Tourism Brand, so that when a tourist begins his trip in one African country they can conclude it in Nigeria to get a holistic approach to tourism in West African.
The Director General said: “We want to encourage other African countries that have best practices for cocoa production, textile and fashion industries to collaborate with Nigeria to create jobs for youth. If our manufacturing and Agriculture industries are reawakened tourism would have contributed to job creation through such synergies with Cote D’Ivoire and other African countries where we can emulate their industry best practices”.
Mrs Mbanefo further emphasised that: we must encourage mechanised farming and industrialisation; I’m happy associations like Manufacturers Associations of Nigeria (MAN) whom I worked very closely with when I was in Lafarge Cement are here. The fashion industry is also a great opportunity to empower youth with skilled labour and grow small and medium scale enterprises.
According to the NTDC Boss, Mrs Sally Mbanefo said that the Corporation has been collaborating with Cote D’Ivoire Tourism Board for the past three years “They have been coming to the Corporation for collaboration between the two countries, the MOU signed today will unite us together and help to achieve the ECOWAS Tourism Brand Regional Alliance which NTDC has been working on with other African countries. Tourism DG says is a value chain that touches every sector in the economy, for example tourism is leaving your house to seek business, leisure, sports, cultural or religious adventure the vehicle you use is either a car, bus, plane or train that is manufacturing benefitting, fueling it benefits oil and gas sector and going to a bukka or restaurant to eat, benefits the Agricultural sector. The Director General opined that NTDC is the apex Tourism promotion and marketing agency in Nigeria, our job is to market and promote the beautiful products of Nigeria like Cultural festivals, arts, Nollywood and our musicians and numerous eco-tourism products and link it up to the rest of Africa.
In her remarks, the Ambassador of the republic of Cote D’Ivoire to Nigeria, Mrs Toures expressed appreciation to all the participants for honouring her invitation, she said “ We will co-operate and partner with Nigeria in many areas such as Tourism, textiles, telecommunication, power, health and education.
Mrs Toures also said, “the Forum is a platform for Cote D’Ivoire to form an alliance with Nigeria to enable the two countries strengthen the existing areas and explore new fields of co-operation on a win-win situation and also reduce poverty in Africa”.
The Director General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Chief Dr. (Mrs.) Sally Uwechue-Mbanefo (2nd Right) and the Plenipotentiary Minister/General Director, Cote D’Ivoire Tourisme, Santiero Jean-Maria SOMET (3rd Right) signing the Memorandum of Understanding between NTDC and Cote D’Ivoire Tourisme while the Ambassador, Republic of Cote D’Ivoire to Nigeria, Her Excellency Mrs. TOURE nee Kone Maman (4th Right); Chairman, Skye Bank, Mr. John Olatunde Ayeni (5th Right) and Head Legal/Board Secretary, NTDC, Mrs. Funebi Otu-Umondak watched during the Cote D’Ivoire – Nigeria Economic Forum recently held at the Hotel Four Points by Sheraton, Lagos.
The Director General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) Chief Dr. (Mrs.) Sally Uwechue – Mbanefo (3nd Right) and the Plenipotentiary Minister/General Director, Cote D’Ivoire Tourisme, Santiero Jean-Maria SOMET (4th Right) holding and showing the signed Memorandum of Understanding between NTDC and Cote D’Ivoire Tourisme while the Ambassador, Republic of Cote D’Ivoire to Nigeria, Her Excellency Mrs. TOURE nee Kone Maman (5th Right); Chairman, Skye Bank, Mr. John Olatunde Ayeni (2nd Right) and Head Legal/Board Secretary, NTDC, Mrs. Funebi Otu-Umondak looked during the Cote D’Ivoire – Nigeria Economic Forum recently held at the Hotel Four Points by Sheraton, Lagos
The Director General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Chief Dr. (Mrs.) Sally Uwechue-Mbanefo flanked by the Ambassador, Republic of Cote D’Ivoire to Nigeria, Her Excellency Mrs. TOURE nee Kone Maman (Left) and High Commissioner, Ghana High Commission, His Excellency William Azumah Awinadar-Kanyirige after the signing of Memorandum of Understanding between NTDC and Cote D’Ivoire Tourisme during the Cote D’Ivoire – Nigeria Economic Forum recently held at the Hotel Four Points by Sheraton, Lagos.