Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation Director General/CEO, Dr. (Mrs.) Sally Mbanefo talks candidly on how Tourism Industry is the alternative to oil in Nigeria. Read on…
What new thing would you say you have brought to NTDC?
I’ve come fresh from a totally different sector; banking, manufacturing, oil and gas, a strict private sector background. So, what is new is that I’ve come with a very fresh attitude and open mind towards tourism. The approach that I am taking is different and I’m aggressive pursuing it. The new message is that tourism is the alternative to oil. We all just need to put our hands together and make that effort. With the campaign that I am carrying out, the whole expatriate community is running after me. Cuba is running after me, Venezuela, Mexico, France, Germany because they are seeing a different perspective.
Talking about the alternative to oil, what tourist attractions do we have that is well developed?
There are so many developed attractions that you can conveniently visit in Nigeria today. The Ikogosi Warm Spring is well developed. The governor has made an effort to improve upon it so that people can enjoy it. The whole idea of tourism is to have enjoyable experience because that is what they take away and they live and die with that experience. Ondo State has beautiful hills, mountains and you don’t have to trek that far to get to them. There are good hotels around. There is a beautiful golf course and you also have medical tourism in Ondo State. In fact, that is what the state will be marketed for. You don’t need to go to India or South Africa anymore. Go to Ondo State. And guess what, Nigerian doctors in the diaspora that have come home are the ones running it for the state. Everything is there. They have a trauma centre for burn and trauma centre for accident where you can be operated on the spot. That is Ondo State for you. The state is unique. What is even more unique is that the governor is a medical doctor, the king is a medical doctor and the Chief of Staff is also a doctor.
It is not just site we are looking for. Tourists need to know that if there is an emergency, there is somewhere they can go to. Soon, we would be talking about medical insurance. So, there is a phase for everything. I am very methodical in my approach that is how we operate in the private sector. We are bringing in an insurance company so that tourists know if anything happens, their medical is covered.
In the north, Kaduna has a team chukka, like an estate. Polo on one hand, spas and everything on the other hand. They have series of huts and proper chalets, hotel standards beautiful with everything modern in it. Every year, the team entertains foreigners, but nobody knows about it. That is why I am going to all these places. I will tell you something, I went to Wukari in Taraba. I saw the king who told me a story about a certain king who lived too long so that the people were not happy with him. One day, they just took him from his throne to an evil forest and dumped him there to die. He did not die immediately. He lived up to 106 years. If you don’t go there, you won’t get to hear these stories.
We have the famous Mabila Plateau. But what is interesting is that when you go there, you’d find other nice and interesting sites. Listening to the traditional rulers, you know the things that they are passionate about.
– Culled from Allure