NAN-ELS-4
Conference
By Collins Yakubu-hammer
Abuja, Nov. 21, 2016 (NAN) The Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) said the forthcoming Tourism Conference scheduled for November was aimed at charting a way forward for the development of the sector.
Chief Tomi Akingbogun stated this in an interview the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.
“We are in top gear. Relevant stakeholders would come together to chart a way forward for the development of the sector and diversification of the economy.
“Also, we are going to have authentic cultural display. We have gone to Bida in Niger State to get the real people to come and perform cultural display.
“We want them to showcase their skills; we are having one or two groups, depending on the final arrangement.
“We are also going to have Arts and Crafts exhibitions. We are asking people to come and book for space.
“It will give them the opportunity to sell their works of arts, ‘’ Akingbogun said.
He said that the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation and the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism are collaborating with FTAN and everything is going on well.
The FTAN President said that the reason behind the idea of bringing cultural group from Bida was because the association wanted the event to affect the rural people.
“So we decided to bring them to town to do cultural display. People will see them and be interested in engaging them for their own events,’’ Akingbogun said.
He said that if such groups were not brought to the city to participate in tourism and culture events, people might not know that they exist.
The FTAN President said the activities of the group would bring food to their tables and “if they continue, they would be making more money for themselves and their family’’.
“So it is not only ‘Okada’ that will be giving them money; their cultural performances will also enhance their income.
“We are trying to use this tourism conference to show people what culture is all about. It will be different from the previous editions,’’ Akingbogun said.
The FTAN president said that job seekers could attend the event as they would have opportunity to meet with manufacturers, food producers, airline and transport operators, among others, who could employ them.
NAN reports that the conference will hold on Nov. 29 and Nov. 30 in Abuja; tourism, hospitality and confectionery stakeholders from both the public and private sectors are expected to participate.(NAN)
CMY/AK/AJA
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(Edited by Akin Makanjuola/Adeleye Ajayi)