NAN-H-3
Winners
By Collins Yakubu-Hammer
Abuja, Oct. 7, 2017 ( NAN) Winners in the National Tourism Essay Competition on Friday evening went home with various cash gifts, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report.
The event was organised by Tourism Development and Facility Company Ltd in collaboration with Youth Tourism Connect.
While Sunday Ogbaga emerged overall winner in the senior category, Steve Temitope came second with Bello Muyowa in the third position.
Ogbaga from Ebony went away with the grand prize of N500,000, while Temitope from Osun got N200,000, with Mayowa from Kwara taking home N100,000.
The only winner in the junior category was Rhandy Nyang from Akwa Ibom who took home N200, 000.
Speaking earlier, the organiser of the event, Ms Abigail Olagbaga, said the senior and junior categories had about 200 entries each.
“We started getting entries from middle of last year and today winners have emerged in the competition.
“Our panel of judges were from the academia, Ministry of Information and Culture and other stakeholders in the sector.
“I want to appreciate the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria(FTAN) and all those that supported this competition.
“Let’s do it again next year. I believe that the next edition will be better and bigger than this,” Olagbaga said.
In his address of welcome, the President of FTAN, Malam Saleh Rabo, commended the organiser of the competition.
Rabo said that tourism has a greater potential to develop the country than oil.
He said while the country would eventually exhaust its oil reserves, tourism resources would remain intact.
“ We have been advocating for tourism subject to be introduced in primary and secondary schools.
“ It should be supported with visits by the students. It will go a long way in creating better understanding among the various ethnic groups.
“By the time people move from the north to the south and vice versa in the name of tourism, it will bring about understanding.
“Also, the tourism industry has the potentials to employ millions of people, both skilled and unskilled,” Rabo said.
Also speaking, Mr Linus Okorie, a motivational and leadership coach, admonished the youths to be receptive and peaceful.
According to him, it is only peace that could encourage tourists to visit sites in the country.
“Nigeria has a lot of tourism potentials, however, it is only when there is peace and security that the sector can thrive,’’ he said.
An highlight of the occasion was reading of poems on tourism and peaceful co-existence in the country by pupils of Start Right School, Abuja.(NAN)
CMY/OJO
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(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)