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NTDC Will Promote Nzeh Mada Festival – Mbanefo Assures

In a time when cultural sector is being given a shot as an alternative to oil in terms of revenue generation, the Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs. Sally Mbanefo, has thrown her weight on the promotion the Nzeh Mada cultural Festival.

The DG who made this known during the third Nzeh Mada festival in Akwa, Nasarawa state, said Nzeh Mada festival, when fully developed, would not only be of economic value to the country, but also engage the teeming unemployed youth.

According to the NTDC Boss, who was the chairman of the occasion, the onus of developing tourist sites doesn’t solely rely on the government, adding that NTDC as a government agency would do everything within its powers to promote Nzeh Mada festival. She therefore urged tourists to visit local sites.

“Mada culture is rich, the location is safe and serene, and the people are very hospitable. As you know, most of the tourist sites are not all in the cities, I therefore encourage tourists to explore the local sites and communities, which is embodied in Mada hill, its waterfall,  serene climate and the hospitability of the people.”

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In his reaction, the Chun Mada, HRH Samson Gamu Yare, thanked the NTDC boss for volunteering to promote the Nzeh mada festival. He therefore honoured her with a symbolic axe and wooden flatter as a sign of recognition of her support for the Nzeh Mada festival.

The Mada chief also noted that NTDC’s partnership would surely go a long way in repositioning the festival to international standard.

He said: “We have a very rich cultural heritage. We are endowed with the Cave, the stagnant water at the top of the Numan hill, the sounding rock and

Nni-ngahaan tourism centre. With the professional touch in terms of packaging and organisation and right partnership from different stakeholders like NTDC, I believe we will go beyond our contemporaries.

“Also, I can see unity in diversity that is why I want to see Mada people putting heads together. We should not allow primordial sentiments keep us apart,” the chief yearned.

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Also speaking, the Executive Secretary/CEO of National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Prof. Barclays F. Ayakoroma, noted the importance of cultural festivals in the area of creation of employment, and promotion of indigenous culture especially now that the sector is beginning to be a viable alternative to oil when properly exploited.

1aThe Director General,  Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation  (NTDC); Chief Dr. ( Mrs.) Sally Uwechue-Mbanefo declared winner of the wrestling competition by  the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer , National Institute for Culture Orientation (NICO)   Associate Professor Barclays . F. Ayakoroma  during the Nzeh Mada Festival 2016 Tourism Fair which is in tandem with her domestic tourism campaign held recently  in Mada Hills Tourism Village, Numan, Nighaan District, Akwanga, Nasarawa State.

2a

The Director General,  Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation  (NTDC); Chief Dr. ( Mrs.) Sally Uwechue-Mbanefo  with The Chun Mada,  His Royal Highness,  Mr. Samson Ganu Yare after the presentation of gift to the Director General during the Nzeh Mada Festival 2016 Tourism Fair which is in tandem with her domestic tourism campaign held recently  in Mada Hills Tourism Village, Numan, Nighaa District, Akwanga, Nasarawa State

3a

The Director General,  Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation  (NTDC); Chief Dr. ( Mrs.) Sally Uwechue-Mbanefo  delivering her speech during the Nzeh Mada Festival 2016 Tourism Fair which is in tandem with her domestic tourism campaign held recently  in Mada Hills Tourism Village, Numan, Nighaan District, Akwanga, Nasarawa State

 

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