If age has anything to do with wisdom and development, then, Nigeria at 52, should be a thing to celebrate in all ramifications and facets of life.But history has consistently maintained thatthe wisdom of Solomon has nothing to do with the age of Methuselah. This is exactly what has been in the tourism sector in relation to its development and time of independence.A careful thinker would be expecting that with all the abundant tourism assets and potentialities which God has blessed Nigeria with, by now, this country would have been the most desired tourists' destination in Africa.This is because Nigeria has all what it takes to become a tourism nation.Is it the natural tourism sites' Is it the population' Is it in terms of needed capacity' Is it in concept and idea' All of these, Nigeria has in abundance.However, it is sad to realise that Nigeria tourism development history is not enviable and cheering despite early sparks and show of vitality particularly in tourism activities in Africa immediately after the granting of independence.It so sad and the reasons are not far-fetched.Initially, the word tourism seems strange to a typical Nigerian in those days when it was how to make ends meet that mattered, not how to engage in something that would not bring money to the pocket or put food on the table. And when the culture of going for excursions was quietly introduced to secondary schools, then the idea of tourism started having meaning.And for two years, most Nigerians did not see tourism beyond catching fun, going for excursion, hotel and leisure. They do not see it as a potent economic activity which is more powerful at mobilising wealth and fund, empowering the people and generating employment than the other precious mineral resources.This was the mindset and the posture of the leaders who dominated the political and administrative spheres of Nigeria at the independence period.The search for political stability based on the economic blueprint of the post colonial Nigeria was uppermost in the minds of our leaders more than giving special attention to the development of tourism as a serious economic activity.But surprisingly, some Nigerians who were able to see beyond the political independence and who because of their exposure overseas where they have been able to realise the impact of tourism on the economy of these countries, and coming home realising the tourism potentialities of Nigeria formed the first ever tourism association called Nigeria Tourism Association (NTA) in 1962 under late Ignatius Atigbi.It was the first ever public sector tourism association in the whole of Africa with the objective of sensitising the government on the import of tourism and spreading its gospel among Nigerians.Though a private sector initiative, late Atigbi turned the association into a veritable organ of calling the world's attention to Nigerian tourism.The association made waves globally and Nigeria was recognised as early as 1963 as a 'country with immense tourism potentialities waiting for crystallisation.'Late Atigbi showcased Nigerian tourism capacity so well that UNWTOranked the country as one which would become a vibrant tourists' destination in so near a time, hence itaccorded it great honour and respect.In fact, it was the activities of NTA and the vibrancy of Atigbi which led to the consecration of September 27 as theWorld Tourism Dayeveryyear.It was late Atigbi, a Nigerian and the Chairman, NTA, who stood up at a UNTWO conference andcalled the attention of the world body to the economic potency of tourism and proposed that such a sector should be accorded recognition worldwide by consecrating a day in the world calendar of event to remind the people of its importance. Thus the world organisation adopted September 27 as the World Tourism Day.This international honour brought by the activities of a non- governmental organisation impressed the military government so well that it not only recognised the association, but engaged it in a collaborative partnership for many years.This partnership blossomed and led to the metamorphosis of NTA into Nigeria Tourists Board, transitingfrom a public association to a government institution.The military government which ruled Nigeria set the tone for the shape of tourism to come, by inaugurating the Nigerian Tourists Board in 1976, with a decree to back it up under Gen Olusegun Obasanjo as the Head of State.After some years, bureaucracy, red tapeism, general order and office politics crept into the running of NigeriaTourists Board leading to theexit ofthe brains behind NTA from the board and the civil servants took over.This seemed to be the undoing of a once proactive and internationally respected association which had cultivated honour and respect for the country.Thus the once internationally proactive association became complacent, redundant and went into a coma.The anscension of General Olusegun Obasanjo's regime onceagain kindled the action of hope inthe Nigeria Tourists Boardas the regime supported the board in its activities and even, at thetail end of histenure, General Obasanjo gave out one million naira to each state governor with the specific instruction of 'go and develop a tourism site in your state.'Most of the 19 states governors then saw the money as a free gift given to them by an outgoing Head of State to make merry. And this was exactly what most of them did.However, it is on record that the then Ondo State governor, late Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin in collaboration with the Nigerian Tourists' Board judiciously expended the money given to the state on enhancing Ikogosi Warm and Cold Water Spring.Under the Generals Ibrahim Babangida, Sani Abacha and Abdulsalami Abubakar, the NigeriaTourism Board was changed to the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) with a larger scope of not only promoting, but developing tourism sites in Nigeria.Also,some tourism friendly policieswere injected into the systemsuch asthe formation of the National Tourism policy which stipulates that eachstate must create Ministry of Tourism and Culture.Several moves and processes were initiated to ensure that the nation has its own Tourism Master Plan, a policy implementation document necessary for a nation which genuinely desired the best in tourism.Under the military, there was motion but without the muchmovement. It was business as usualwith no strong commitment at developing and aggressivemarketing of Nigerian tourism.Participating at the international exhibitions, fairs and markets were reduced to normal routine of going out there only to 'mark the register of attendance.'However, sign of good things to come started rolling outwhen Chief Alabi Aiyegboyin, assumed the leadership of NTDC.Though, a civil servant to the core and a Permanent Secretary then at the Planning Commission before his deployment to NTDC, Chief Aiyegboyin stooped low, learnt from members of the private sector and for the first time piloted the corporation in co ' hosting of the FirstNigeria Trade and Tourism Fair which took place in Kaduna.The retirement of Chief Aiyegboyin also led to the retirement of the sparks of success being recorded at the tourism front in the country. This was so because, the NTDC is pivot of tourism in Nigeria and the pace at which it speeds depends on the vision and clout of whoever tends the corporation. So, for many years the Nigeria tourism progress decelerated.However, the second coming of Chief Obasanjo as a civilian presidentturned a light of hope into the tourism sector's tunnel.The first thing he did wasthe creation of a newfully fledged Ministry of Culture and Tourism with about 11 parastatals. These parastatals were supposed to helm in andenhance the various units of tourism in the country and align them with the national vision.Also, Chief Obasanjoinauguratedthe Presidential Council on Tourism, a body formed with the intention of servicing the needs of the tourism sector with presidential dispatch. The council was made up of Minister of Finance and other ministers whose ministries are directly linked and essential to tourism, some state governors whose states are paragon of tourism assets and who are interested in developing these and representatives of the tourism private sector associations.Also, the Tourism Master Plan was drawn and presented to the president, while many policies aimed at encouraging tourists and investors to Nigeria were inaugurated such as the 48 hours visa for intending tourists to Nigeria, cancellation of police check points on Nigerian roadsand so many others.Under Chief Obasanjo, NTDC which is chief tourism marketing body was strengthened as appointed director general, Mrs Omotayo Omotoso and the present occupants of the post helped Nigerians to appreciate tourism as an economic activity better.During the tenure of MrsOmotoso, she used the emergence of a Nigerian lady, Miss Agbani Darego as Miss World to tell the world that beautiful things can come out of Nigeria while Chief Olusegun Runsewe has exposed to the world through well packaged products, heavy promotion of the cultural and natural blessing and aggressivemarketing at international fairsand shows of the tourism assets of Nigeria which have allcultivated respect, honour and dignity to Nigeria.Chief Runsewe has been able to take tourism into the door mouth of Nigerians through his proactive and pragmatic sensitisation of tourism issues, products and appreciation of local programmes.He has used tourism to shore up Nigeria's image and ensured that Nigeria is recognised and accorded its respect at the comity of tourism countries in the world.Of recent, Chief Runsewe took Nigeria tourism on a road show of United States of America and successfully sold Nigeria's tourism to the essential trade groups with acceptable applause and commendation.The development stride of Nigeria in the tourism sector since independence is replete with stories of rising and falling at decades interval which has not really brought the country any appreciable benefit. One would have expected that a country which has started tasking the world on tourism issues since 1962, just two years after independence, should by now be a front bencher in the comity of tourism nations. But regrettably thisis not.And for the country to achieve any impressive stride so as to explore fully the benefits of tourism, the leadership must first of all show and exercise poise and clout.Tourism development and enhancement is notdone haphazardly particularly by a country which prides itself of looking for multi ' economic revenue sources.Nigerian leaders should be ready to first of all erect relevant legislations and acts to guide the sector and also go the whole hog by injecting heavy fund into the enhancement and development of designated tourism sites and provide the necessary infrastructure as done in countries like Malaysia and Indonesia which despite having oil made more money through tourism.Also, there must be deliberate attempt at luring Nigerians to embrace the culture of tourism and leisure through massive sensitisation of the people on the importance of tourism and leisure and also through properlegislation by attaching a valueto visiting a tourism site in Nigeria when on leave .Lastly, the tourism sector must be run bycompetent and fitpersons with proven track of performance and those who have passion and patriotic zeal for the sector not those who have failed in the running of individual hospitality concerns or those whose companies have defrauded the nation by refusing to pay the mandatorytaxes.If this is not done, then Nigerians should be ready to continue wandering in the wilderness of hopelessnessyear ' in ' year out in relation to tourism development.
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