The Nigerian Minister of information, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has disclosed the Federal government plans to transform the ministry of culture and tourism into a job creating and revenue spinning sector in the next four years.
The minister who gave the hint at a meeting with some selected journalists in Lagos on Monday corrected the general misconception in the public that more attentions are given to information than the creative, culture and tourism industry.
According to him, this administration has achieved a lot in the Culture, Tourism or creative industry and it tends to consolidate on it within the next four years.
“The issue we usually deal with in the information are those that receive the bigger play in the media but I can assure you with evidence that we have achieved a lot in the culture, tourism or creative industry.”
Also speaking on the plans of the ministry, the minister stated that he would set necessary framework which conclude inauguration of the National Policy on Culture and National Policy on Tourism.
The Nigerian culture and tourism helmsman stressed that an endowment fund will be set up for The Art to create a legal framework for financing of the sector and kick-start the implementation of the parts of the Tourism masterplan that constitute low- hanging fruits.
He however promised to organize a regional summit for culture and tourism from year 2020 with the purpose of working with other countries in West Africa sub-region that will foster development of the sector.
“We will continue with our visits to tourist sites and attend as many festivals as possible across the country.
“‘We will also finalise work on and inaugurate the National Festival Calendar this year to attract more tourists, domestic and foreign, to these events,” he said.
Mohammed who promised to get more sites in Nigeria inscribed as UNESCO world Tourism Heritage sites, solicited supports from stakeholder in order to achieve the set goals.
