Culture and Tourism

ITPN President Adds Voice To Soaring Calls For a Stand Alone Tourism Ministry

Published

2 years ago

August 8, 2023

Joel Ajayi

The National President of the Institute for Tourism Professionals of Nigeria (ITPN), Chief Abiodun Odusanwo has added his voice to the clamour for the creation of a stand-alone Ministry of Tourism and Culture for Nigeria by the current administration under the leadership of President Asiwaju Ahmed BolaTinubu as the fastest means of resuscitating the nation’s ailing economy.

Chief Odusanwo who made the call when he addressed newsmen in the Abuja head office of the Institute, stated that tourism remains one of the most viable non-oil alternative sector to petroleum capable of revamping and sustaining the ailing national economy because it is the sector that stimulates development in terms of income generation, employment opportunities, foreign exchange earnings, taxation as well as the attendant multiplier and spillover effects that the sector has on the rest of the economy.

He stated further that globally, tourism remains one of the greatest contributing sectors to the economies of most countries, accounting for the substantial income generation and foreign exchange earnings, stressing that Nigeria can do a lot better if the necessary recognition and attention are accorded to the sector as a viable economic venture that is equally capable for massive job creation and poverty eradication.

Odusanwo said with the renew hope agenda of the present administration, the tourism sector deserves a prime position and recognition in the pursuits of the non-oil sector economy that will bail the country out of the woods and place it on the path of sustainable economic growth and development.

The ITPN President further stated that a stand-alone ministry of tourism and culture was long overdue for Nigeria against the backdrop of the enormous tourism potentials that the country is endowed with and its vintage position of been considered a preferred tourism destination by the global tourist population, noting that the President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s administration will be doing the country good by focusing and exploring the economic potentials and viabilities existing in the tourism industry.

He further observed that while most African countries with less tourism endowments than Nigeria are doing better utilizing the benefits inherent in the sector to earn high percentage of their GDP from the sector, Nigeria is still lagging behind, leaving it abundant tourism potentials unexplored and untapped, noting that stakeholders and key players of the industry have hope and confident in the Renewed Hope agenda of the present administration to accord the tourism industry a prime place in its economic development agenda by creating a stand-alone tourism ministry.

Share on Facebook

Creative Industry

Musawa Highlights Art and Culture as Drivers of Public Sector Excellence at Legislative Mentorship Session

Published

3 days ago

November 28, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, Esq., has emphasized the importance of integrating art and culture into public-sector excellence in Nigeria.

In a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by the SA Media & Publicity, Office of the Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy Nneka Ikem Anibeze, Phd.

Musawa made this known while addressing trainees at the 4th Legislative Mentorship Initiative (LMI), held at the National Institute For Legislative and Democratic Studies, Abuja on Thursday.

Themed ‘Building the next generation of Public Sector Leaders’, Minister Musawa highlighted art and culture as essential tools for national cohesion and identity, economic development and job creation, innovation and civic engagement, sustainable development, and projecting Nigeria’s soft power and global identity.

She noted that Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage is a unifying force that binds different ethnicities and elaborated on how Art and Culture is key to public-sector excellence in Nigeria.

“First, embracing and promoting art and culture helps to forge national cohesion and shared identity among Nigeria’s diverse populations. Integrating culture into public policy and governance transforms the creative and cultural sectors into engines of economic development, job creation and diversification. Cultural industries including crafts, music, film, design, heritage tourism can generate livelihoods, attract investment, expand exports, and reduce overreliance on a narrow set of economic activities.

“A society that values creativity and cultural expression tends to produce more resourceful citizens, fosters cross-cultural dialogue, and encourages public servants to be more adaptive, empathetic, and culturally aware while prioritizing culture and creative economy in public policy through frameworks, institutions, and infrastructure, demonstrates long-term vision and commitment to sustainable development,” Musawa said.

The Minister called for supportive policies, enabling legislation, and sustained commitment to fulfill this vision, including laws that protect intellectual property, incentivize investment in creative infrastructure, and integrate arts and culture into education and community development.

“Embedding art and culture at the heart of governance and public-sector planning is not a luxury, it is a necessity. It builds unity, drives economic growth, fosters innovation, strengthens institutions, and ensures that development respects and reflects the soul of the nation,” she emphasized.

Musawa thanked the founder of the Legislative Mentorship Initiative (LMI), Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his inspiring vision and unwavering commitment to cultivating Nigeria’s future public-service leaders.

Other speakers at the Legislative Mentorship Initiative include the Director General, Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization Aisha Augie, Nigerian photo-journalist and documentary photographer Bayo Omoboriowo, Amb. Dapo Oyewole, Secretary-General Conference of Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures amongst others.

Share on Facebook