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By Taiye Baiyerohi
Lagos, Feb. 28, 2018 (NAN) Mr Benedict Amobi, a former Nigerian Ambassador to the Nordic countries, on Wednesday decried the poor state of the various heritage sites in the country.
Amobi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that these historical sites were supposed to be huge blessings for the nation but had been poorly managed over the years.
NAN reports that the Nordic countries are: Finland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway.
He appealed to the Federal Government to take seriously the renovation of the sites across the federation.
He said that each of the sites would be money spinners for the nation if well managed.
The ex-ambassador said that the Federal Government should also be proactive in developing the nation’s creative economy and its tourism.
He added that tourism could only be developed when the creative economy and the historical sites were properly groomed.
According to him, heritage sites like the Ogbunike Caves, Osun-Oshogbo sacred groove, Oke Idanre Hills, ancient Kano city walls, Benin Iya, Arochukwu long juju slave route and others should be given facelifts.
“Each time I see most of our historical sites in poor state I get angry with the government, we need to get our priorities right.
“The heritage sites are not supposed to be neglected because they tell a lot of our history; we must protect them for generations unborn to benefit from, to build our Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“Look at the National Theatre and the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) where FESTAC ‘77 was hosted, the only historical and cultural festival that brought together citizens from 59 countries.
“Such a festival ought to have been continued and will have been a good opportunity of boosting inbound tourism.
“To start with, the National Theatre, the National Museum and other heritage sites should be renovated to pace up with modern innovations to attract both local and international tourists,’’ Amobi said.
He tasked visual artists on frequent organisations of art fairs to showcase Nigerian arts to the world.
Amobi said that this would go a long way in wooing international tourists into the country, adding that Nigerian arts stood unique and appreciated in the world.
“Nigerian arts are usually appreciated in the foreign countries. , I got to know this when I was still the Nigerian Ambassador to Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland.
“Citizens of these countries truly like Nigerian arts and I know when art fairs are usually organised, these people will like to visit the country and purchase our arts.
“This is also applicable to other countries of the world,’’ the ex-Nigerian envoy said. (NAN)
PTB/COF/PAD
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Edited by Oluyinka Fadare/Peter Dada