By Emmanuel Adeniran, Ado Ekiti.
The former Director General of Abuja Carnival, Professor of Dance and Dean of Post Graduate School at the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, in Ekiti State, Professor Rasaki Ojo-Bakare has urged and appealed to the Federal Government to stop focusing only on the development of oil resources at the expense of the development of tourism’s potentials, saying that the latter could earn Nigeria more resources than oil.
Professor Bakare who “cited some Countries in Africa including Gambia, Kenya and Tanzania which sources of per capita income is from culture and tourism to buttressed his assertion, insisted that the Country is losing Billion’s of foreign currencies to lack of interest in the sector. Nigeria government believes that it can only derive resources from oil, I pray that it won’t be too late to market our tourism resources when the oil dried up”.
The University Don, who is a Former Director of Abuja Carnival, particularly regretted the poor attentions the Ekiti State Government is paying to the Sector, adding that tourist attractions in Ekiti West Local Government alone can pay the salary of workers, if properly harnessed and stop dependence on the Federal allocation for sustenance.
He spoke in Aramoko Ekiti on Wednesday September 26th during a Press Conference heralding the 2018 edition of Aramoko Ekiti Cultural Heritage Festival tagged ‘ARAFEST’.
Bakare disclosed that “Tourism if handle well by government could take the Country where oil couldn’t take it to. He disclosed that Tourism has the potential to curb crimes and create employment opportunities. He said the ARAFEST cultural fiesta was targeted at launching the tourism potential of Ekiti to the global scene and make it the hub of Arts and Culture in Africa, particularly the ones that has to do with traditions and culture in the town”.
“We can’t gainsay the fact that Nigeria is losing for not paying attention to the tourism potentials and business in the Country. Tourism if well handled will take
Nigeria to where oil has not taken us to”.
“Though, those in charge of tourism sector have not been able to prove that Nigeria can make money through tourism. Tourism is bringing people to your doorsteps to see your culture”.
“Many countries like Gambia, Tanzania and Kenya are making big monies from tourism. In Ekiti alone, activities of tourism along Ikogosi, Ipole Iloro and across Ekiti West alone can pay salaries of workers in Ekiti if given adequate and required attention and focus”.
“Let us just assume a situation whereby the Federal Government sites a globally accepted film village around this place, this will bring many film makers to Ekiti and our economy will go up”.
“In case the FG doesn’t know, tourism development can take Nigeria to a higher pedestal the oil they are depending on can never take us to”, he said.
Speaking on the 2018 edition of the ARAFEST carnival, Bakare said the cultural fiesta will feature a lecture, titled: “the place of Aramoko in the history of Yoruba’, which will be delivered by an emeritus professor of history”.
