NAN Archive

Loading

NAN Archive

Tag Tourism

Politics

Imo lawmaker advocates gender equity in governance

Equity

 By Victor Nwachukwu

Owerri, Sept. 26, 2019 ( NAN) Mrs Ngozi Obiefule, a member representing Isu Constituency in the Imo House of Assembly, has called for gender equity in governance at all levels.

 

Obiefule made the call while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), as part of the activities marking the ninth Assembly’s 100 days in office in Owerri on Thursday.

 

The lawmaker, who is also the Chairman, House Committee on Culture and Tourism as well as Vice Chairman, Trade and Investment said that women deserved fair share of the gains of “political adventures.“

 

She described as frustrating, the relegation of women to the background after elections, in spite of the large number of votes they cast to aid winners of elections at various levels.

 

” It is particularly frustrating that, here, we have just two out of 27 legislators and just two out of 17 commissioners. It is no indictment on the men but the figures give no kudos to our governance.

 

“We have the numbers on Election Day but when it comes to sharing the spoils of political war, so to speak, we are relegated to the background.

 

” I think we should be able to imitate countries such as Rwanda, Botswana and South Africa, where we have about 60 per cent of legislators as women,” she said.

 

Obiefule, however, called on women at all levels of politics to remain committed to the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities, in order to have results to show for the trust bestowed on them.

 

“We, the women, must however remain committed and always have something to show for being here.

“In the last 100 days, I have been able to raise six motions, prominent among which is the sustenance of the free education policy. I also have one bill on the floor of the House with three others to come when we resume.

“There are also the spelling bee and football competitions for primary schools and free medical care for women and children in my constituency.“

She commended Gov.Emeka Ihedioha for cooperating with the legislature and called on Imo residents to continue support the rebuilding efforts of the present administration in the state. (NAN)

VIN/DUA

Edited by Dada Ahmed

Foreign

S. African gov’t prioritises tourism in efforts to create jobs

Jobs

Cape Town, Aug. 26, 2019 (Xinhua/NAN) Tourism can be the catalyst for rapid job creation in South Africa, Tourism Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane has said.

Job creation is of the utmost priority for the government and tourism can be the catalyst to make it happen, the minister said in remarks posted on the government’s website on Monday.

This came as South Africans marked the Tourism Month launched on Friday to give impetus to the industry in times of poor economic performance.

Kubayi-Ngubane highlighted the importance of Tourism Month as a means to both South Africans and visitors from outside the country’s boarders to travel and experience the country’s diverse offerings.

Tourism has the potential to boost South Africa’s economic growth and improve job creation, which requires an inclusive tourism sector, Kubayi-Ngubane said.

“We remain confident that tourism will contribute to our country turning to positive economic growth desired by our government and also contribute to more jobs to its maximum potential,” she said.

In March, a World Travel & Tourism Council report stated that South Africa has the largest tourism economy in Africa, having indirectly contributed 1.5 million jobs (9.2 per cent of South Africa’s employment) and 425.8 billion rand (about 27.9 billion U.S. dollars) in 2018.

The report also indicated that the sector accounts for 8.6 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product.

The government is trying to meet the target of creating 21 million jobs through tourism.

Kubayi-Ngubane said that to achieve the target, the Tourism Department would continue to work closely with the Department of Home Affairs on visa facilitation to increase tourists’ access to the country.

She also stressed the importance of working closely with police and stakeholders in the sector to address the concerns of safety.

According to the minister, the government will develop and drive an aggressive marketing campaign for both domestic and international markets. (Xinhua/NAN)

YEE

=====

(Edited by Emmanuel Yashim)

General news

Tourism: Nasarawa Govt to construct 18km road to Farin Ruwa

Tourism: Nasarawa Govt to construct 18km road to Farin Ruwa
By Mohammed Baba Busu
Tourism
Lafia, July 14, 2019 (NAN) The Nasarawa State Government says it will construct an 18km road to open up the Farin Ruwa waterfalls to tourists.
Gov. Abdullahi Sule said this while addressing national officials of Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) led by its National President, Ejezie Emeka Rollas, who paid him a courtesy call at the Government House in Lafia on Wednesday.
Sule said his administration had just obtained quotations for the job and would award the contract in order to open up the area for tourism, showcase the abundant natural endowments of the state and boost internally generated revenue.
On the significance of the film industry to national development, the governor noted that throughout the developed world, the film industry had always been a partner to government, especially in countries that had challenges and crisis such as Nigeria.
“I had the opportunity to see Niagara Falls and in Nasarawa State, if you go to a place called Farin Ruwa, you will think you’re actually at Niagara Falls.
“A lot of people don’t know something like that exists,” Sule said.
The governor urged the AGN to take advantage of the tourism potentials of Farin Ruwa to establish a film village in the area.
He pledged to approach wealthy philanthropists like Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Chief Tony Elumelu, among others, to facilitate setting up a film village at Farin Ruwa.
Sule also promised to partner with the guild towards educating the people on the activities of government.
Earlier, the national president of AGN said they were in the state to identify with the governor’s transformational agenda, especially youths empowerment, which would make the state strong and prosperous.
Rollas sought partnership of the state government on the use of films to showcase activities of government, while urging the governor to create enabling environment for the guild to carry out its activities in the state.
He said the guild was poised to discover and empower teeming youths of the state who were interested in the entertainment industry.
The AGN national president was accompanied on the visit by renowned Nollywood and Kannywood actors, including Alhaji Sani Danja; Blessing Audu; Nasarawa state Chairman of the AGN, Dr Alex Osifo; Chief Zeburdaya, and Keppi Ekpenyong Bassey. (NAN)
BAB/CHOM/MST
Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Entertainment

World Tourism Day: NATOP seeks partnership with FG to boos sector

World Tourism Day: NATOP seeks partnership with FG to boost sector
By Collins Yakubu-Hammer
Tourism
Abuja, Sept. 27, 2018 (NAN) As the world celebrate World Tourism Day (WTD), the National Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) seeks partnership with Federal Government to boost the sector and generate more revenues for the overall growth of the country.

Hajiya Bilkisu Abdulsalam, the National President of NATOP, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.

The 2018 theme for the WTD is “Tourism and Digital Transformation’’.

It is a day set aside by the United Nation World Tourism Organisation to create awareness on the need to appreciate tourism across the world.

She said it was regrettable that the nationwide strike action by the Nigerian Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress coincided with the WTD.

However, we must continue to celebrate the day, because it is a special day for tour operators and tourism actors across the world.

“We want to use the opportunity to call on government to collaborate with us to move the tourism sector forward and generate more revenue for the country.

“Also, government should create the enabling environment like good road network to tourist sites; provide adequate security in the country to encourage influx of foreign tourists.

“Our job as tour operators is to sell packages to foreigners to motivate them to come to Nigeria for holidays, entertainment and leisure.

“But when the security or safety and infrastructure are not adequate, it is hard to convince them to come to Nigeria; that is why we want the government to partner with us.

“Again, we are appealing to government to visit some sites and do the needful; we cannot do it alone. The country is losing millions of Naira on monthly basis to these challenge,’’ Abdulsalam said.

The NATOP president, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Bobooi Travel and Tour, said there were beautiful tourist sites in Nigeria, but that Nigerians prefer to go to other countries.

According to her, between 50 and 100 Nigerians are going to South Africa, Switzerland and Dubai for tourism monthly, regretting that people from those countries don’t visit Nigeria.

“The reason is not far fetch; inadequate security and infrastructure to encourage people to visit the tourist sites in Nigeria,’’ she said.

On classification of hotels in the country, the NATOP president said it was one of the major challenges facing the growth of the tourism sector.

“We cannot come out to say this is a three, four, five or seven star hotel; in other countries their hotels are classified alongside their prices.

“Before I send a client to any country, I let them know the classification and price rate of the different hotels. But in Nigeria we do not have such or a criteria to classify them.

“If government can collaborate with NATOP, we can set up a programme to check into these hotels, asses them and classify them accordingly; this will put them in the global map of tourism and hospitality.

“But the absent of classification is also affecting our hotels. Hotel owners have their own association and they pay tax. The different owners can confess to you the low level of patronage.

“Also, Minister of Tourism and Chief Executive Officers of tourism parastatals should avoid sending representatives to tourism events; they should come, listen to us and do the needful for the sector to move forward.’’

NAN reports that the nationwide strike by workers has affected this year’s WTD celebration in Abuja as the Ministry of Tourism, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation and other tourism and culture related agencies remain shut.

However, offices of NATOP, Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria and other private sector operators in the sector remain open for normal services. (NAN)
CMY/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Saraki harps on tourism potentials of Ojude-Oba, commends organisers

Ojude-Oba
By Temitope Salami
Ijebu-Ode (Ogun), Aug. 23, 2018 (NAN) Senate President  Bukola Saraki on Thursday said that the Ojude-Oba festival in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun,  has the potential to transform tourism in the country.

Saraki, who was the special guest of honour at the Ojude-Oba festival held in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun, also commended the organisers of the event for giving it international recognition.

Saraki said the country would do well to draw from the festival’s potential to drive alternate income generation and create additional employment opportunities for indigenous youths.

The senate president used the opportunity to call on Nigerians to remain united to foster growth and development, stressing the importance of peace in nation-building.

“The Ojude-Oba can be a source of revenue that can employ thousands of people and promote the image of the country in good stead.

“The festival today is amongst the top carnivals in our nation when we talk about the resilience and dynamics of culture as the Ojude-Oba is a reference point.

“It is my hope that we can enforce and promote the ideals of the festival in culture and tourism development.

“This festival is a testament to the fact that, where there is strong leadership, we can see progress in the country.

“Ojude-Oba is already setting the pace and we hope we can see more of this in Africa as I congratulate you for this historical feat,” Saraki said.

The Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona thanked the senate president and Ijebu indigenes for the honour and support toward the success of this year’s  Ojude-Oba festival.

Adetona called for continued peace in Ijebuland and urged politicians not to heat up the polity as the 2019 general elections approach.

The monarch also urged the Federal Government to explore more ways to exploit the potentials of tourism for the socio-economic development of the nation.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) on the sidelines of the event, Mr Muyiwa Oladipo, the Ogun Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, said the  Ojude-Oba festival was promoting the culture of the Ijebu people and Ogun in general.

Ben-Murray Bruce, the senator representing Bayelsa East in the Senate, also said the Federal Government was not doing enough to tap the potentials of tourism.

He called for improved budgetary allocation to tourism with a focus on revamping the sector for the benefit of future generations.

“Tourism is a gold mine we have not fully exploited, it’s a business with endless possibilities,” Bruce said.

NAN reports that the event was widely attended by guests and visitors in spite of the intermittent rainfall during the programme.

Gov. Ibikunle Amosun, who was absent for the first time since the inception of his administration in 2011, was represented by his deputy, Mrs Yetunga Onanuga.

There was mild drama at the event when some people wielding brooms in support of the All Progressives Congress began shouting  “Sai Baba, ” a  political slogan associated with President Muhammadu Buhari.

They were,  however,  reprimanded by the Awujale, who said  that the  Ojude-Oba was  not a platform for  partisan politics. (NAN)
TDS/KOLE/OJO
============
(Edited by Remi Koleoso/Mufutau Ojo)

Entertainment

Ijebu Ode wearing festive look ahead of Eid-el-Kabir, Ojude-Oba festivals

Festivities

By Temitope Salami

Ijebu-Ode (Ogun), Aug. 20, 2018 (NAN) Few hours to the celebration of the Eid-el-Kabir and few days to the celebration of the annual “Ojude-Oba’’ Festival, scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 23, enthusiasm is at a fever-pitch in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that socioeconomic activities in Ijebu-Ode where the “Ojude-Oba’’ Festival is celebrated annually have continued to witnesses positive spikes as one enters the ancient town.

 

Both the indigenes as well as visitors, tourists and dealers in souvenirs have begun to arrive the state for the annual carnival-like “Ojude-Oba’’ Festival which holds on Aug.23 with the theme: Ojude-Oba: Celebration of Rich Cultural Heritage.

 

NAN reports that the “Ojude-Oba’’ Festival is an annual reunion of sons and daughters of Ijebu-Ode, their in-laws, and invited guests usually held two days after the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

 

A correspondent of NAN who went round the town on Monday observed a beehive of activities by residents who had their rams and other livestock tied within their compounds for the celebrations of both festivals.

 

Also, it was observed that hotels in the town and its environs had been fully booked while operators of outdoor bars, tricycles, motorcycles and relaxation spots had begun to count their gains.

Ijebu-Ode, a town predominantly occupied by Muslims, comes alive every Eid-el-Kabir alongside the age-old “Ojude-Oba’’, which is celebrated to honour the Awujale of Ijebuland.

NAN also reports that several corporate organisations had displayed their advert billboards as a way of participating in the celebration of the two festivals.

 

Ishola Fatungase, a resident of the town and a paint dealer, said that they were looking forward to a memorable celebration of the “Ojude-Oba’’ Festival.

 

He, however, appealed to the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), in charge of power distribution in the area, to make the event memorable through uninterrupted power supply.

 

“The icing on the cake for us will be full-scale-power supply throughout the period of the sallah to make it lively for us as well as being able to preserve our drinks and consumables.

 

“For me as a Muslim, it is the only time of the year I get to see most of my  family members as they are  located in different parts of the country and outside the country,” he said.

 

Another respondent, Gbenga Otukoya, a civil servant, lamented the high cost of rams this year as compared to the same period last year.

 

“I just returned from Imowo Eleran market, where livestock is considerably sold cheaply. Yet, I could not afford the type of ram I wanted due to the high price.

 

“A medium-sized ram, sold last year for N60, 000 is now N85, 000 at the market, while cows sell for between N120, 000 and N180, 000 or even higher depending on the quality.

 

“A large ram is going for between N120, 000 and N150, 000.

 

“We are in a joyful mood as expected but the only downturn is that most people are not as buoyant financially to celebrate the sallah and Ojude-Oba as expected,” Otukoya said.

 

Mr Dare Odusanya, a car dealer based in Chicago, USA, said he arrived in the country two weeks ago to have ample time to savour the holiday mood in the town alongside his other family members.

 

“The high point for me apart from the sallah break is the Ojude-Oba festival which is celebrated with so much pomp and pageantry.

 

“The festival is colourful and unique as it’s a spectacle to behold given the magnitude of attractions and displays that grace the occasion.

 

“I strategically fix my vacation to correspond with this occasion and also invite my white friends to Nigeria just to grace the grandeur of the “Ojude-Oba’’ Festival,” Odusanya said.

 

The Chairman of the Ojude Oba Planning Committee, Otunba Wahab Osinusi had previously assured participants coming to witness it of maximum security and safety.

 

“The festival is not only about equestrian display, parade of culture and tradition, merry-making and funfair.

 

“It is also to boost commerce and trade in its entirety as commercial and trading activities are at their peak before, during and after the festival.

 

“All the facilities; hotels, restaurants, artisans, craftsmen, transporters, professionals, market men and women, among others are fully engaged with several multiplier corporate effects,” Osinusi said.

 

He assured intending visitors and guests coming for the event of adequate medical services, security and traffic management saying all security agencies were working assiduously to ensure a hitch free celebration.

 

Several hundreds of thousands of people including visitors and guests from diverse cultures and nationalities are expected to grace the 2018 edition of the Ojude-Oba Festival that began over 100 years ago. (NAN)

 

TDS/PAD
========
Edited by Peter Dada

 

 

 

 

 

 

Health

Medical Tourism: NMA tasks FG on improved facilities

Medical Tourism: NMA tasks FG on improved facilities
By Ummul Idris
Hospitals
Abuja, April 9, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has called on the Federal Government to strengthen healthcare facilities in the country to discourage medical tourism.
The President of NMA, Prof. Mike Ogirima, made appeal while fielding questions on medical tourism and manpower flight from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.
Ogirima urged government to provide modern equipment in hospitals and improve the welfare of medical personnel to encourage them stay home and offer efficient services.
He regretted that many government hospital across the country had become moribund, adding that it is time government address the problem by addressing the problems to make the health sector more functional.
He also urged government to build new healthcare centres to provide citizens more access to healthcare delivery.
Besides, Ogirima urged government to employ more qualified doctors and ensure that best global practice is maintained in all healthcare facilities in the country.
“Government needs to make sure that routine immunisation and antenatal care is provided in all hospitals across the country and on our part we shall continue to advocate that our teaching hospitals must have adequate infrastructure for optimal operation,’’ Ogirima said.
He said lack of employment had forced many qualified doctors to leave the country in search of job and asked government to employ more doctors to man hospitals. (NAN)
UMD/ABI/MST
Edited by Ali Inuwa/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

FG committed to ending medical tourism

FG committed to ending medical tourism
NAN-HG
Tourism
By Awayi Kuje
Keffi (Nasarawa State), March 13, 2018 (NAN) The Minister of State for Health, Dr Ehanire Osagie, says the Federal Government is committed to improved standard of health facilities in the country to discourage patients from medical tourism.
Osagie said this while inaugurating projects initiated and executed by the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Keffi, Nasarawa State.
He said that President Muhammadu Buhari has given the needed attention to the health sector in order to improve the healthcare services to Nigerians.
According to him, people that go to India, Egypt, Europe and America, among other countries, for medical treatment may feel that they are not safe here, that is why the federal government is doing its best to increase the confidence of Nigerians in all of our hospitals.
“The federal government of President Muhammad Buhari is doing its best and want to upgrade health facilities across the country but funds are not enough,” he said.
He congratulated Dr Joshua Giyan, the Medical Director of the centre, for keying into projects that have direct bearing on the lives of the staff and patients at large.
“I also want to congratulate the chairman and members of the governing council of this centre on their appointments.
“I want to advise them that they have a very easy job because the hospital has a very good reputation.
“I am also advising the governing board members to go beyond board room.
“As members of the governing council, you are the custodians and supervisors of the hospital, go everywhere, check the house keeping and its environment for effective healthcare service delivery,” he added.
The minister assured of federal government continued support to the centre to improve on the health status of the people of the state and Nigeria at large.
The Chairman, Governing Board of the centre, Mr Sule-Iko Sadiq, pledged members’ commitment to uplift the facility toward improved service delivery.
Earlier, the medical director had said that he was determined to improve the standard of the centre to an enviable status.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the projects inaugurated included an administrative complex, Isolation Unit and Electronic Personnel Record. (NAN)
AKW/VOE/MST
Edited by Vivian Emoni/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Improving Nigeria’s health sector will curb medical tourism —Prof.

NAN-HG-4
Funds
By Temitope Salami
Sagamu (Ogun), July 10, 2017 (NAN) A Professor of Medicine, Emeritus Prof. Theophilus Ogunlesi, has advised the Federal Government to allocate more funds to the health sector to curb the incessant medical tourism by Nigerians.

Ogunlesi, the first Professor of Medicine in Nigeria, gave the advice on Monday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sagamu, Ogun state.

He urged the government to provide incentives and conducive working environment for healthcare practitioners to discourage them from seeking greener pastures in medically advanced societies.

He said that the brain drain being witnessed in the sector was as a result of lack of support on the part of the government.

Ogunlesi explained that the first step to enhance the country’s healthcare delivery system was by restoring the citizens’ confidence in the capacity of their country to provide quality healthcare services.

“Government must resolve to equip local healthcare facilities with state-of-the-art infrastructure to curb the need to refer patients abroad for medical treatment.

“Technically, we have the manpower in terms of know-how, but we must bridge the resource divide if we are to reach our full potential in the provision of healthcare,” he said.

Ogunlesi said that most Nigerians were becoming increasingly worried about the standard of healthcare services in the country.

He declared that provision of potable water and uninterrupted power supply would help to transform the sector.

Commenting on the economy, Ogunlesi urged leaders to explore waste-to-wealth opportunities to complement government’s efforts at revamping the economy.

He also urged the government to prevent indiscriminate disposal of waste which could be recycled to provide renewable energy, such as biogas.

Ogunlesi commended the anti-graft war being championed by President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration and described as a “welcome development.’’

He urged Nigerians to contribute their spiritual and material resources towards the success of war, saying it is the only panacea for development. (NAN)
TDS/KOLE/AEA
===========

Edited by Remi Koleoso/Archibong Asuquo

Entertainment

Audio Attached: Federation applauds appointment of Rae-Omoh as acting D-G of NTDC

Audio Attached

NAN-ELS-1

Commendation

By Collins Yakubu-hammer

Abuja, Jan. 17, 2017 (NAN) The Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) has applauded the appointment of Mrs Mariel Rae-Omoh as the acting Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC).

The President of FTAN, Chief Tomi Akingbogun, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday that the appointment of Rae-Omoh to head the corporation would help develop the tourism sector.

Akingbogun described Rae-Omoh as “an old hand in tourism activities” and “one of the few professionals still left’’.
Cue in audio

“We are happy that she is occupying the seat now; she has been in the NTDC for a long period and she is one of the few professionals still left.

“There are so many non professionals to a point where by when decisions are to be made, the non professionals’ votes seem to ring louder in the past and that has disturbed development of tourism and development of NTDC.

“She is still on an acting position, we believe is a very positive step; FTAN were able to visit her; and we told her of the readiness of the private sector to move this economy out of recession.’’    

Cue out audio

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that until her elevation, Rae–Omoh, was the Director of Hospitality and Travel Trade at NTDC.

 

She holds a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Tourism and Hotel Administration and worked at an international hotel in Nigeria before moving to NTDC, where she has held several positions. (NAN)

CMY/OSA/YEE

Edited by Shittu Obassa/Emmanuel Yashim

=============================